COMMERCE A/S LASH SECURES EXEMPTION FROM DAMAN

UNCLAS AMMAN 006130

SIPDIS

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 system
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