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