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