Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ACCRA2484
2005-12-06 17:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

WTO DOHA ROUND ACTION PLAN: GHANA

Tags:  EAGR ECON ETRD KIRC KPAO OIIP GH WTRO 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002484 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

USTR FOR LAURIE-ANN AGAMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD KIRC KPAO OIIP GH WTRO
SUBJECT: WTO DOHA ROUND ACTION PLAN: GHANA

REF: A. STATE 211956

B. STATE 204611

Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002484

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

USTR FOR LAURIE-ANN AGAMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD KIRC KPAO OIIP GH WTRO
SUBJECT: WTO DOHA ROUND ACTION PLAN: GHANA

REF: A. STATE 211956

B. STATE 204611

Summary
--------------

1. (SBU) In response to Reftels, Ambassador, Econoffs, and
USAID/Ghana and USAID West Africa Regional Program (WARP)
officers are working closely with the Ministry of Trade and
Industry (MoTI) to prepare GoG representatives for the World
Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial in Hong Kong with
training and multi-level discussions on USG and GoG
positions. WARP -- through the West Africa Trade Hub --
sponsored training for African delegates to the Hong Kong
Ministerial, including two from Ghana's MoTI. Econ and
USAID-Ghana officers are raising USG points in a series of
meetings with MOTI and other GoG officials, culminating with
Ambassador's meeting with Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen
prior to his departure for Hong Kong. End Summary.

TRAINING FOR DELEGATES
--------------

2. (U) WARP's West Africa Trade Hub sponsored training on the
General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS) at Nigeria's
Federal Ministry of Commerce in Abuja November 21 through 25.
Kwame Donkoh and Kwasi Nyame-Baafi of Ghana's MoTI attended
the training. The session included general background
information on the GATS, and culminated in a GATS negotiation
simulation. Both Dokoh and Nyame-Baafi are slated to
accompany Trade Minister Kyerematen to Hong Kong.

INITIAL WORKING LEVEL MEETINGS
--------------

3. (U) Econ and USAID officers met with Acting MOTI Chief
Director Seth Addo and Chief Commercial Officer Lawrence
Sae-Brawusi to discuss the upcoming Hong Kong meeting.
EconOff delivered Ref A points to clarify the U.S.
Agriculture proposal. Addo and Sae-Brawusi declined to
comment on the GoG's position, but expressed appreciation for
the clarification and agreed to brief Minister Kyerematen on
the U.S. proposal.


4. (U) According to Addo, Ghana intends to present its views
along with other African WTO member states as a bloc in Hong
Kong. He said Africa's stance on the competing U.S. and EU
agriculture proposals should be clearer as African leaders
reach consensus before leaving for Hong Kong. (Note: Addo

commented that African countries were hammering out their
positions over a series of meetings: the WTO Africa Group
meeting in Switzerland, November 5-6, the Second
Extraordinary MEeting of AU Trade Ministers in Tanzania,
November 20-25, the ACP Trade Ministers' meeting in Brussels,
November 29, and the G-90 Trade Ministers' meeting in
Brussels on December 2. End Note). Sae-Brawusi elaborated
on points he thought would come out of these meetings to form
the Africa bloc's position:

-- African countries support the elimination of all
agricultural subsidies and want a definitive deadline in
place. They are less certain about whether in-kind food aid
constitutes a subsidy because a number of members rely on
U.S. in-kind food aid. They support a more flexible
interpretation, which could allow for a combination of local
purchases and in-kind aid.

-- The agreement reached last summer in Geneva known as the
"July Package" allowed for "special products" to be
designated for exemption from tariff reductions in order to
protect domestic production to ensure food security,
livelihood security, and rural development. African
countries feel "special products" should be designated by
member states, and not subject to WTO approval or
ratification by other member states.

-- The July Package refers to increased trade facilitation.
African countries are eager to define this in terms of
increased foreign assistance and will press for commitments
from donors in Hong Kong. (Note: foreign donors are already
supporting a major training program in Ghana related to trade
facilitation, the "Trade Sector Support Program." USAID will
provide approximately $600,000 to this effort in 2006. End
Note)

-- The July Package extends the right to developing countries
to employ safeguards against "import surges" to protect
domestic agriculture producers. African countries would
prefer not to discuss details of these safeguards until after
the Hong Kong round is completed.

-- African countries feel that a higher ceiling for
industrial tariffs is their best defense against dumping.
They feel that the burden of proof of dumping under WTO rules
places them at a disadvantage. They feel the freedom to
increase these tariffs will deter dumping. Their negotiating
point is one of "less than full reciprocity." In other
words, developed nations should not be extended the same
right to increase tariffs.

MOVING FORWARD
--------------

5. (U) Econ and USAID officers will follow up with Addo and
Sae-Brawusi, as well as with other GoG officials at the
Ministries of Agriculture and Finance, in preparation for
Ambassador Bridgewater's December 7 meeting with Minister
Kyerematen. The Ambassador will focus on urging GoG support
for the U.S. proposal and defining the African position as
clearly as possible. Post will report the outcome of the
Kyerematen and other meetings, and will remain in contact
with MoTI officials throughout the Hong Kong Ministerial.
COMMENT
--------------

6. (SBU) Although Addo and Sae-Brawusi effectively explained
the African WTO positions, it was clear from the meeting that
neither was familiar with the details of either the U.S. or
EU proposals, despite Post's repeated demarches and
diplomatic notes on the subject. Furthermore, neither
appeared prepared to advise the Minister on any particular
position, and expressed hope that the proposals could be
"harmonized" by the U.S. and EU without them -- or Africa --
having to take sides. Nevertheless, Ambassador will press
Kyerematen to give public support to the U.S. position, or at
least provide a concrete GoG position prior to his departure
for Hong Kong. END COMMENT.
BRIDGEWATER