Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI136
2004-01-12 13:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE WANTS BILATERAL FTA WITH U.S., CONCERNED GCC
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/15/2007 04:10:56 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM January 12, 2004 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 136 - ROUTINE) TAGS: ETRD, ECON, EFIN Captions: None Subject: UAE WANTS BILATERAL FTA WITH U.S., CONCERNED GCC PROPOSAL MAY DELAY PROGRESS REF: RIYADH 153 Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 00136 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: P/M AMB DCM POL Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: ABM: MWAHBA DRAFTED: ECON:CCRUMPLER CLEARED: DCM: RALBRIGHT; ECON:OJOHN VZCZCADI501 RR RUEHC RUCNWTO RUEHZM RUCPDOC DE RUEHAD #0136 0121333 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 121333Z JAN 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2987 INFO RUCNWTO/WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE RUEHZM/GCC COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000136
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB/TPP/MTA/IPC
STATE PASS USTR - KALVAREZ AND JBUNTIN
USDOC FOR 4250/DOC/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: NA
TAGS: ETRD ECON EFIN USTR TC
SUBJECT: UAE WANTS BILATERAL FTA WITH U.S., CONCERNED GCC
PROPOSAL MAY DELAY PROGRESS
REF: RIYADH 153
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000136
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB/TPP/MTA/IPC
STATE PASS USTR - KALVAREZ AND JBUNTIN
USDOC FOR 4250/DOC/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: NA
TAGS: ETRD ECON EFIN USTR TC
SUBJECT: UAE WANTS BILATERAL FTA WITH U.S., CONCERNED GCC
PROPOSAL MAY DELAY PROGRESS
REF: RIYADH 153
1. (SBU) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Under
Secretary for Political Affairs Abdullah Rashid Al-Nuami
SIPDIS
confided to the Ambassador on January 11 that the UAEG
prefers to negotiate a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
with the United States, instead of working toward a
multilateral agreement within the GCC. Al-Nuami stated
that the UAE does not want its agreement with the United
States held up by complications that might be posed by a
process which includes Saudi Arabia. He noted that the
UAEG is generally supportive of the GCC initiative to
conclude a regional FTA with Washington (reftel),but views
the proposal as a Saudi effort to "not be left behind" the
other Gulf countries currently negotiating bilateral trade
agreements.
2. (SBU) In a separate conversation with Econ Chief,
Ministry of Finance Assistant Under Secretary for Revenue
and Budget Khalid Al-Bustani suggested that negotiating an
FTA among the GCC members would be logistically impossible,
and suggested that the GCC proposal might be an effort by
"certain less-developed Gulf States" to retard the progress
of other countries currently negotiating trade agreements
with the United States.
3. (SBU) Comment: Both of our Emirati interlocutors were
clear that the signing of a Trade and Investment Framework
Agreement (TIFA) and an eventual bilateral FTA with the
United States remain top priorities for the UAEG. Although
supportive of the GCC proposal, they hoped that it would
not jeopardize or delay in any way Washington's momentum to
conclude bilateral trade agreements with Abu Dhabi. UAEG
officials no doubt are cognizant of Saudi Arabia's problems
acceding to the WTO and probably perceive that FTA
negotiations undertaken by the GCC (and likely spearheaded
by the Saudis) would be lengthy and arduous. Indeed, the
GCC has been unsuccessful in completing a similar agreement
with the European Union, despite several years of
negotiations. End comment.
Wahba
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB/TPP/MTA/IPC
STATE PASS USTR - KALVAREZ AND JBUNTIN
USDOC FOR 4250/DOC/MAC/ONE/CLOUSTAUNAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: NA
TAGS: ETRD ECON EFIN USTR TC
SUBJECT: UAE WANTS BILATERAL FTA WITH U.S., CONCERNED GCC
PROPOSAL MAY DELAY PROGRESS
REF: RIYADH 153
1. (SBU) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Under
Secretary for Political Affairs Abdullah Rashid Al-Nuami
SIPDIS
confided to the Ambassador on January 11 that the UAEG
prefers to negotiate a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
with the United States, instead of working toward a
multilateral agreement within the GCC. Al-Nuami stated
that the UAE does not want its agreement with the United
States held up by complications that might be posed by a
process which includes Saudi Arabia. He noted that the
UAEG is generally supportive of the GCC initiative to
conclude a regional FTA with Washington (reftel),but views
the proposal as a Saudi effort to "not be left behind" the
other Gulf countries currently negotiating bilateral trade
agreements.
2. (SBU) In a separate conversation with Econ Chief,
Ministry of Finance Assistant Under Secretary for Revenue
and Budget Khalid Al-Bustani suggested that negotiating an
FTA among the GCC members would be logistically impossible,
and suggested that the GCC proposal might be an effort by
"certain less-developed Gulf States" to retard the progress
of other countries currently negotiating trade agreements
with the United States.
3. (SBU) Comment: Both of our Emirati interlocutors were
clear that the signing of a Trade and Investment Framework
Agreement (TIFA) and an eventual bilateral FTA with the
United States remain top priorities for the UAEG. Although
supportive of the GCC proposal, they hoped that it would
not jeopardize or delay in any way Washington's momentum to
conclude bilateral trade agreements with Abu Dhabi. UAEG
officials no doubt are cognizant of Saudi Arabia's problems
acceding to the WTO and probably perceive that FTA
negotiations undertaken by the GCC (and likely spearheaded
by the Saudis) would be lengthy and arduous. Indeed, the
GCC has been unsuccessful in completing a similar agreement
with the European Union, despite several years of
negotiations. End comment.
Wahba