OTTAWA DEMARCHE RESPONSE: TRADE IMPACT OF REVISING

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000541 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ETRD WTRO SUBJECT: OTTAWA DEMARCHE RESPONSE: TRADE IMPACT OF REVISING WHO'S INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS REF: SECSTATE 27576 GOC informs us that they intend to propose two changes to the draft text. The first, under article 38, is to add "and be compatible with other international legal obligations." The second, under article 58, is to remove the text in brackets: "provided they do not represent a dire conflict with these regulations." GOC expressed concern that this phrase, which they wish removed, would imply a hierarchy of agreements such that IHR would prevail over other obligations. In addition, in reference to the second-to-last talking point, GOC would prefer no explicit reference to other organizations, for fear that an explicit listing could later cause problems when critics might attack the IHR because they deem the listing incomplete. GOC considers that the clause they are proposing as an addition to article 38 conveys the same intent without the problems inherent in a list of other organizations; they wish to keep it more 'generic'. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa DICKSON