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


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