COMMERCE A/S LASH SECURES EXEMPTION FROM DAMAN

UNCLAS AMMAN 006121

SIPDIS

4110/ITA/MAC/OAC/TCC/NWIEGLER
STATE FOR NEA/ARN
STATE ALSO PASS TO USTR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD PREL JO
SUBJECT: COMMERCE A/S LASH SECURES EXEMPTION FROM DAMAN


1. This is an action cable. See para 3.


2. Assistant Secretary of Commerce William Lash June 29
called on Dr. Ahmad Hindawi, head of the Jordan Institute of
Standards and Metrology (JISM),the lead Jordanian agency for
the DAMAN product conformity pre-shipment inspection program.
In response to A/S Lash's reiteration of U.S. objections to
the DAMAN pre-inspection program Hindawi agreed in principle
to an alternative -- what he termed a risk-based,
post-shipment system. It would include possible physical
inspection, review of documentation, and/or testing, he
noted. He was relying on the products having been tested by
appropriate U.S. labs with high standards, he said. He
agreed that the risk assessment would be multi-layered. He
agreed to an interim exemption for U.S.-produced products
pending completion of studies of legal and technical issues
related to the risk-based system.


3. ACTION REQUEST: Embassy seeks guidance on the approach
to be taken with JISM on an exemption for U.S.-based
products. An "interim" exemption would be non-binding on the
USG; should it prove ineffective we could ask to cancel it.
On the other hand, if it proved beneficial, it could last
forever. Embassy believes that we should start now to make
the case for a permanent exemption with the Ministry of
Industry and Trade, and seeks guidance on the points we
should make. Charge meets with Hindawi on July 21.


4. A/S Lash did not have the opportunity to review this
cable.
HALE