MOZAMBIQUE AND THE WTO: THE RUN UP TO HONG KONG

UNCLAS MAPUTO 001610

SIPDIS

AF/S FOR HTREGER
USTR FOR PCOLEMAN
AF/PD FOR LMING

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON KPAO MZ WTO
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE AND THE WTO: THE RUN UP TO HONG KONG

REF: (A) STATE 221249
(B) STATE 208981 AND PREVIOUS



1. Per reftels, Embassy Maputo delivered demarches to
appropriate level Mozambican officials regarding the
U.S. Doha proposal. In addition, post placed under
Ambassador La Lime's name an op-ed piece on Doha, which
ran in local dailies and fax news sheets the week of
December 5. The piece was followed by at least two
separate and detailed articles in the Mozambican press
on the Hong Kong ministerial and the U.S. proposal.
Local media covered President Guebuza's comments on WTO,
stating that market access was a key issue for Africa.
Guebuza called for the abolition and/or reduction of
developed-country agricultural subsidies as important
steps to help countries in the region.


2. On December 7, Ambassador and USAID Director
discussed the U.S. proposal and hopes for the Hong Kong
Ministerial with Minister of Industry and Commerce
Fernando, and invited the Minister and staff to attend
the side meetings being arranged by the USG on trade
capacity building. (Note: Though the Minister could not
attend the follow-on session due to a previous
commitment, the meeting was attended by other MIC staff.
End note.) Later, on December 9, in the course of an
extensive television interview on the prospects for Hong
Kong, Fernando cited the USG position on agriculture as
a positive sign for further advances in the Doha round.

LA LIME