Special 301: Comment on IACC Submission

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DEPT FOR EB/TPP/MTA/IPE - SWILSON/JURBAN AND EUR/SE DEPT
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD KIPR TU
SUBJECT: Special 301: Comment on IACC Submission


NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION

REF: 3/1/05 Sirotic/Urban Email


1. Based on input from the automotive industry, the
International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition's (IACC)
Special 301 Recommendation on Turkey alleges that the
Turkish Customs Undersecretariat requires industry to
pay USD 20,000 to provide anti-counterfeit training.
Moreover, the IACC requests that the USG engage the GOT
to eliminate this payment and investigate alleged
corrupt practices. However, it appears that the
allegation is incorrect.


2. After the recommendation had been posted to the IACC
website, Pfizer contacted Embassy FCS and Econ sections
to dispute the allegation, and put us in touch with
Garlin International, a private company. Garlin, with
the help of the Foreign Investors Association (Turkish
acronym YASED),had organized a seminar for customs
officials on anti-counterfeiting issues in September

2004. Pfizer participated in that seminar, and reports
that it is satisfied with Customs anti-counterfeiting
efforts. Garlin told Econoff that it is organizing
additional seminars for trademark owners in Turkey at a
projected cost of USD 20,000. The entire fee is
dedicated to accommodation, conference hall rental, and
other administrative costs. None of this fee is
provided to Turkish Customs. Garlin stated that General
Motors Europe had balked at the cost of participating in
the seminar and that this was likely the source of the
misinformation. Garlin has communicated this to GM as
well as IACC in a February 17 letter (ref email).


3. Embassy also plans to discuss the IACC recommendation
with Turkish Customs in the near future. We request
that Washington agencies take Garlin International's
information into account in considering Turkey's Special
301 status for 2005.
Edelman