KUWAIT TO FURTHER POSTPONE ICCP IMPLEMENTATION

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000422

SIPDIS

USDOC 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/DGUGLIELMI
DEPT PASS TO USTR FOR JBUNTIN
GENEVA FOR USTR
DEPT FOR EB/TPP/ATT
DUBAI FOR MICHAEL HENRY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR KU USTR GCC
SUBJECT: KUWAIT TO FURTHER POSTPONE ICCP IMPLEMENTATION

REF: KUWAIT 00392 AND PREVIOUS


1. (U) During a February 1, 2003, meeting with Salah Abdul
Redha A. Khourshid, Kuwait's Minister for Commerce and
Industry (MOCI),the Ambassador requested that the GOK
further delay implementation of its proposed International
Conformity Certification Program (ICCP) to allow WTO members
additional time to reply (reftel). After consulting with his
advisors, Khourshid agreed, stating that the GOK now plans to
postpone the ICCP start date until at least March 17.


2. (U) Khourshid was joined in the meeting by four MOCI
officials, including three officials from the Public
Authority for Industry (PAI); the Ambassador was joined by
EconOff (note taker) and a senior local staff member. MOCI
Acting Under Secretary Bader Abdul Rahim stated that in
addition to the technical reasons cited (reftel),the GOK's
commercial attache is presently involved in negotiations on
technical aspects of the program with the WTO Secretariat.
He added that the WTO has asked Kuwait to submit an
explanatory paper before it moves forward with implementation.
URBANCIC