GHANA DEMARCHE: FOOD AID AND THE WTO

UNCLAS ACCRA 001788 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE PASS USAID FOR DALE SKORIC STATE PASS USDA FOR USDA/FAS (ELIZABETH AUTRY) EB/TPP/ABT/ATP FOR JANET SHANNON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EAGR ECON ETRD GH WTO SUBJECT: GHANA DEMARCHE: FOOD AID AND THE WTO REF: A. STATE 155973 ¶B. STATE 119974 ¶1. (SBU) USAID Acting Mission Director and EconChief met September 1 with Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen to deliver Ref A demarche on food aid and the WTO. This meeting followed on Post's July 5 letter to the Minister outlining the points articulated in the earlier State cable on food aid reforms (Ref B). ¶2. (SBU) Emboffs shared Ref A talking points and Non Paper with the Minister and asked him to pass them to Ghana's Trade Representative in Geneva. EconChief and USAID Acting Director explained the U.S. position that the WTO is not the appropriate organization to monitor food aid, rather we should use an existing structure, such as a reformed FAO Consultative Subcommittee on Surplus Disposal. USAID Acting Director argued that leaving the food aid reform debate and discussion in a WTO setting could result in a reduction of development food aid, of which Ghana is a recipient. ¶3. (SBU) Kyerematen agreed to review the paper with his staff but was not prepared to make a statement on whether the GoG will support the USG position. Econ and USAID will follow up September 6 with the Trade Ministry's Chief Director (the main career civil service official),Seth Addo, and Trade Ministry officials covering the WTO. Emboffs will also raise the subject with Finance and Agriculture Ministry counterparts. Post will report the results of these meetings prior to the September meeting in Geneva. LANIER