Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI2678
2003-06-07 09:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE INTERESTED IN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/21/2007 05:45:26 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM June 07, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 2678 - ROUTINE) TAGS: ECON, ETRD, EFIN, PREL Captions: None Subject: UAE INTERESTED IN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 02678 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: POL P/M DCM AMB Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB: MMWAHBA DRAFTED: ECON: GARANA CLEARED: A/DCM: TEWILLIAMS VZCZCADI426 RR RUEHC RUEHEE RUEHDI RUCPDOC RUEHTU DE RUEHAD #2678 1580958 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 070958Z JUN 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0258 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHDI/AMCONSUL DUBAI 3172 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0522
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002678
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR FOR JBUNTIN
AMEMBASSY TUNIS HOLD FOR FSI: OLIVER JOHN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EFIN USTR PREL TC
SUBJECT: UAE INTERESTED IN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002678
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR FOR JBUNTIN
AMEMBASSY TUNIS HOLD FOR FSI: OLIVER JOHN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EFIN USTR PREL TC
SUBJECT: UAE INTERESTED IN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
1. (SBU) Nasser Sweidan, office director for de facto
Finance Minister Dr. Khirbash, called A/DCM June 5 to say
that he was drafting a letter from MFA Minstate Hamdan bin
Zayid to Secretaries Powell and Evans outlining the UAEG's
strong interest in pursuing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
with the United States. A/DCM thanked Sweidan for the
heads-up.
2. (SBU) Comment: The UAE leadership is excited about
the President's South Carolina speech, particularly the
Middle East Free Trade Agreement concept. Both de facto
Defense Minister Shaykh Muhammad bin Zayid and MFA Minstate
Hamdan bin Zayid have called the Ambassador to say the UAE
would like to pursue this actively and looks to us for
guidance on next steps. Dubai Ports Authority Chairman
Sultan bin Sulayem was also very positive during recent
meetings in Washington. We would appreciate guidance from
the Department on how we may respond to the UAE's
enthusiasm (would a TIFA be the first step?),and what the
potential hurdles might be (national treatment of foreign
investors, set-asides like agency laws?). End Comment.
WAHBA
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR FOR JBUNTIN
AMEMBASSY TUNIS HOLD FOR FSI: OLIVER JOHN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EFIN USTR PREL TC
SUBJECT: UAE INTERESTED IN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
1. (SBU) Nasser Sweidan, office director for de facto
Finance Minister Dr. Khirbash, called A/DCM June 5 to say
that he was drafting a letter from MFA Minstate Hamdan bin
Zayid to Secretaries Powell and Evans outlining the UAEG's
strong interest in pursuing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
with the United States. A/DCM thanked Sweidan for the
heads-up.
2. (SBU) Comment: The UAE leadership is excited about
the President's South Carolina speech, particularly the
Middle East Free Trade Agreement concept. Both de facto
Defense Minister Shaykh Muhammad bin Zayid and MFA Minstate
Hamdan bin Zayid have called the Ambassador to say the UAE
would like to pursue this actively and looks to us for
guidance on next steps. Dubai Ports Authority Chairman
Sultan bin Sulayem was also very positive during recent
meetings in Washington. We would appreciate guidance from
the Department on how we may respond to the UAE's
enthusiasm (would a TIFA be the first step?),and what the
potential hurdles might be (national treatment of foreign
investors, set-asides like agency laws?). End Comment.
WAHBA