WOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTS U.S.

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000138 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD LO WTRO SUBJECT: WOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTS U.S. REF: STATE 20468 On February 7, Econoff delivered talking points, per reftel, to Jan Galoci, Senior Trade Counselor, and Michal Vrabel, Trade Counselor, of the Ministry of Economy. While supportive of the U.S. position, neither man knew which office was responsible for this subject. Repeated calls to them yielded no new information. Finally, on February 17, Vrabel responded that the GOS had decided to reverse its earlier position, and would now support U.S. efforts for a one-year extension in the implementation date of a requirement to use de-barked wood for packaging materials shipped to the EU. Vrabel also said that "several" other EU members would also reverse their earlier positions and would now support U.S. efforts. He would not identify these countries, but added that they should be sufficient to allow the one-year extension to be approved. THAYER NNNN