NEW ZEALAND RESPONDS TO APEC PROPOSALS ON CUSTOMS

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000727

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/EP-DAVID TOMCZYK AND EAP/ANP-THOMAS
RAMSEY
STATE PASS USTR-JAYME ROTH, AUDREY WINTER AND
BARBARA NORTON

E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECIN ETTC EINV NZ APECO
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND RESPONDS TO APEC PROPOSALS ON CUSTOMS
DUTIES MORATORIUM AND ELIMINATING IT TARIFFS

REF: (A) STATE 180617; (B) STATE 180612


1. Post delivered ref talking points August 24 to Adele
Bryant, deputy director in the economic division of New
Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.


2. On the proposal for permanently extending the customs
duties moratorium on electronically transmitted products
(ref B),Ms. Bryant said the ministry was awaiting clearance
from the government's development agency before taking a
final position. However, she said her government at this
point expects to support the proposal.


3. On the proposal to eliminate tariffs on additional
information technology products (ref A),Ms. Bryant said
that, since the Second APEC Senior Officials' Meeting, her
government has been working on a list of products for
consideration but has not yet completed it. She said the
ministry would continue to work closely with Barbara Norton
at USTR on the proposal.

Swindells