CANADA ON OECD/ANTI-BRIBERAY DEMARCHE ON EXPORT

UNCLAS OTTAWA 003373 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EB/IFD, L/EB, EUR/ERA AND WHA/CAN STATE PASS EX-IM FOR OGC/SONFIELD AND POLICY/FIRESTONE TREASURY FOR TRADE FINANCE COMMERCE FOR 6731 LENZ JUSTICE FOR MENDELSOHN PARIS ALSO FOR OECD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN ETRD PREL CA EXIM SUBJECT: CANADA ON OECD/ANTI-BRIBERAY DEMARCHE ON EXPORT CREDIT GROUP REF: STATE 205372 ¶1. (SBU) We have conveyed the points provided reftel to Canada's Departments of Finance, International Trade (formerly part of Foreign Affairs and still charged with this issue) and to Export Development Canada, the Ex-Im counterpart. Peter Cameron at Finance Canada confirmed that Export Development Canada has consulted with Finance and International Trade and is aware of their views on this issue. Although EDC is "spiritually in the right place," on combatting bribery, some provisions of the action statement proposed by the U.S. pose awkward operational issues for some EDC products. He said EDC lawyers are poring over it to look for solutions. ¶2. (SBU) Jean Cardyn of EDC said they have had very useful and transparent discussions on this issue with US counterparts at Ex-Im, Treasury and State. Although EDC agrees with much of the USG proposal, there are areas where it goes too far, noting that "sometimes small words make a world of difference." Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa WILKINS