BAHRAIN: WTO AGRICULTURE NEGOTIATIONS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001456 SIPDIS DEPT PASS DEPT OF AGRICULTURE EB/IPE FOR SWILSON, NEA/ARPI USDA FOR JHURST USTR FOR DMULLANEY GENEVA FOR USTR E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2015 TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD KIPR BA WTO SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: WTO AGRICULTURE NEGOTIATIONS AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS REF: A. MANAMA 1427 ¶B. STATE 180474 ¶C. STATE 177074 ¶D. STATE 165908 Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Econoff October 9 delivered Ref B demarche concerning WTO agriculture negotiations and geographical indications (GI) to Ministry of Industry and Commerce Director of Foreign Trade Relations Abdul Razak Zainalabedin, Director of Industrial Property Mohammed Dhirar Al-Shaer and Head of International Trade Organizations Eman Al Doseri. The officials said they were already familiar with the U.S. position, and Al-Shaer stated that Bahrain fully supported the U.S. He presented Econoff with a written statement of Bahrain's position: Begin unofficial translation: Kingdom of Bahrain Ministry of Industry and Commerce Industrial Property Directorate We agree that any discussion of geographical indications should be directed to the TRIPs Council, and we resist taking any action on it in the agriculture negotiations. We recognize the laws pertaining to GIs under TRIPs as sufficient to provide a robust system of protection. The Kingdom of Bahrain also recognizes the value of geographical indications, and we provide protection through Law No. 16 of 2004. We are planning to add GI provisions to the Trademarks Law to create a unified system domestically. Bahrain supports addressing GIs solely in the context of the TRIPs Agreement, and we agree that negotiating GIs in two separate committees undermines the effectiveness of a single set of rules for GIs and would cause conflicting agreements and obligations in this field. We support the United States against the EU and others who believe that GIs should receive enhanced protections other than from the TRIPs Agreement. We would like more clarification about the U.S. position in the WTO agriculture negotiations. End translation. ¶2. (C) Al-Doseri asked for guidance on how Bahrain can further support the U.S. position on GIs during the WTO Special Sessions of the Agriculture Committee. She suggested a statement or declaration that the Bahraini Government could sign onto as one possible instrument to oppose EU initiatives. MONROE