BAHRAIN: URGING EU TO TABLE MEANINGFUL AGRICULTURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001567 SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC NEA/ARPI USTR FOR JBUNTIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2015 TAGS: EAGR ETRD BA WTRO SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: URGING EU TO TABLE MEANINGFUL AGRICULTURE MARKET ACCESS PROPOSAL REF: A. STATE 195286 ¶B. STATE 190748 Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Econoff October 25 delivered Ref A demarche requesting Bahrain to urge the EU to table a meaningful WTO agriculture market access proposal to MFA Director for International Organization Affairs Ghassan Shaikho. Shaikho said he was in consultations with his colleagues in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce regarding Bahrain's position. He said the U.S. conditional offer announced October 10 (Ref B) marked significant progress. He characterized the U.S. position as "middle of the road" compared to the "ultra-right" EU position. ¶2. (SBU) However, Shaikho said the U.S.-proposed tariff structure would still "squeeze developing countries." "We're looking forward to supporting a harmonizing of positions in order to help developing countries in general and Bahrain in particular," he added. The issue involved political as well as economic considerations and a successful resolution to the current impasse would enhance the prosperity of developing countries, thereby alleviating a root cause of terrorism. ¶3. (C) Shaikho said that Bahrain would have to maintain allegiance with other developing countries, but would seek to support the U.S. discreetly. He observed that because agriculture is a relatively minor sector of Bahrain's economy, the tariffs issue was not of central importance. He noted, however, that the GOB was in the process of identifying its priority areas in the WTO negotiations, and would share this information with the Embassy soon. MONROE