HONDURAS SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON GEOGRAPHICAL

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002060 SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/TPP/ABT/ATP (JSHANNON),EB/TPP/IPE (SWILSON) USDA FOR JHURST (FAS/ITP/MTND) STATE PASS USPTO FOR DLASHLEY-JOHNSON STATE PASS USTR FOR DMULLANEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD KIPR WTO SUBJECT: HONDURAS SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS IN WTO REF: (A) STATE 165908 (B) STATE 177074 (C) STATE 180474 ¶1. As instructed in reftels, Post delivered the talking points associated with the U.S. position on the Geographical Indications (GIs) debate in the WTO to Minister of Industry and Commerce Irving Guerrero and Chief Commercial Negotiator Melvin Redondo. ¶2. Redondo agreed that the discussion of GIs should remain in the TRIPS Council and not be further discussed in the agriculture negotiations. While indicating his strong support he deferred specific confirmation until he communicated with his team in Geneva. Honduras has historically sided with the U.S. on GIs, and was a co- sponsor of the "Joint Proposal" for the multinational notification and registration system that the U.S. submitted to the WTO TRIPS Council in 2002. ¶3. Post will advise if his response is different then indicated. Williard