Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ABUDHABI497
2003-01-29 14:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

EMBASSY ABU DHABI WELCOMES TRADE INSTITUTION-BUILDING

Tags:  EAID ETRD ECON PREL TC 
pdf how-to read a cable
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Diana T Fritz 06/05/2007 10:43:03 AM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
CONFIDENTIAL

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM January 29, 2003


To: No Action Addressee 

Action: Unknown 

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 497 - UNKNOWN) 

TAGS: EAID, ETRD, ECON, PREL 

Captions: None 

Subject: EMBASSY ABU DHABI WELCOMES TRADE INSTITUTION-BUILDING 
 IN THE UAE 

Ref: None 
_________________________________________________________________
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 00497

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: ECON 
 INFO: P/M AMB DCM POL 
Laser1:
 INFO: FCS 

DISSEMINATION: ECON
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB: MWAHBA
DRAFTED: ECON: CCRUMPLER
CLEARED: A/DCM: TWILLIAMS

VZCZCADI333
OO RUEHC RUEHZM
DE RUEHAD #0497 0291408
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291408Z JAN 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8154
INFO RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000497 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/RA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2013
TAGS: EAID ETRD ECON PREL TC
SUBJECT: EMBASSY ABU DHABI WELCOMES TRADE INSTITUTION-BUILDING
IN THE UAE

REF: STATE 23998

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000497

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND NEA/RA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2013
TAGS: EAID ETRD ECON PREL TC
SUBJECT: EMBASSY ABU DHABI WELCOMES TRADE INSTITUTION-BUILDING
IN THE UAE

REF: STATE 23998


1. (U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba for reasons
1.5 (b) and (d).


2. (C) Post concurs with NEA that a regional conference, followed
by a focused bilateral program to address the UAE's specific
trade-related concerns, is the best approach to trade
institution-building in the Gulf. The regional conference should
avoid detailing specific problems of the UAE (or those of any GCC
country, for that matter, "naming and shaming" in public would be
counterproductive in our view),but rather should emphasize the
benefits of reducing barriers to trade. Such a conference might
also usefully address issues arising from the implementation of
the GCC Customs Union in terms of WTO obligations, and standards
issues. Given the UAE's reputation as the trading hub of the
region, it is possible that the UAEG would cover the costs of
training/travel for trade experts, host training sessions at UAEG
expense, and even propose a permanent regional training facility
in the UAE for trade-related programs.


3. (C) A long-term presence in the region of an American trade
expert would best serve our interests -- the representative could
educate the UAEG on its specific WTO obligations, as well as
explain U.S. positions in multilateral negotiations. (Note:
The UAEG is particularly interested in our position on Trade in
Services in aluminum, petrochemicals, and textiles. End note.)
We sense that the UAEG wants both to support the United States in
multilateral fora, as well as expand our bilateral trading
relationship, but does not understand its own commitments, the
technical aspects of WTO Agreements, or the intricacies of our
domestic requirements fully.


4. (C) We should aim to lash up with the WTO's International
Trade Center (ITC) and the Arab Monetary Fund -- headquartered
in Abu Dhabi -- to build upon those organizations' existing
programs for trade institution- building. The AMF, in particular,
manages an active training schedule throughout the year,
but does not have indigenous expertise. The AMF signed an
agreement with the WTO's ITC in 2001 to provide trade-related
training and the necessary experts from Geneva to conduct the
training. The seminars in 2002 were well attended by all 21
countries of the AMF's membership.


5. (C) UAE officials have welcomed targeted WTO training
-- especially in Trade in Services and TRIPs -- and raised the
issue at the U.S.-UAE Strategic Dialogue in Washington in November.
Post believes that the UAE could also benefit from training
in Government Procurement and Intellectual Property Rights,
specifically. A better understanding of agreements related to
Customs Valuation Methods, Rules of Origin, and Standards as
Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade are also critical to the UAE, but are
ideal for regional training fora given the realization of the GCC
Customs Union on January 1.


6. (C) We note that the WTO also provides non-trade related
training consistent with our other MEPI goals -- fostering workers'
rights and protection, supporting workforce skills development, and
revamping/updating of the local commercial and agency laws and
courts -- which may also be applicable in the UAE.

Wahba