Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUDHABI1227
2006-03-29 10:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
AUSTRALIA-UAE FTA: NATURAL RESOURCES A CONCERN
how-toVZCZCXRO5456 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHAD #1227 0881032 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 291032Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4244 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0129
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001227
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, EB/TPP/BTA
STATE PASS USTR FOR AUSTR DONNELLY AND BELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2016
TAGS: ETRD ECON AS AE
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA-UAE FTA: NATURAL RESOURCES A CONCERN
Classified By: Martin Quinn, Deputy Chief of Mission for reasons 1.4 (b
& d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001227
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, EB/TPP/BTA
STATE PASS USTR FOR AUSTR DONNELLY AND BELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2016
TAGS: ETRD ECON AS AE
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA-UAE FTA: NATURAL RESOURCES A CONCERN
Classified By: Martin Quinn, Deputy Chief of Mission for reasons 1.4 (b
& d).
1. (C) On March 29, Australia's lead Australia-UAE negotiator
Stephen Deady (First A/S Trade Development Division,
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) gave EconChief a
quick update on the results of the March 27-29 negotiating
round. He described the week as "reasonable," but with no
breakthroughs. According to Deady, the UAE's services offer
represents an improvement on its initial offer, but the UAE
still needs to offer more.
2. (C) Deady said that the big issue was natural resources,
with the UAE stating that the FTA could not include natural
resources and the Australians arguing that a comprehensive
FTA could not exclude an entire sector. He added, however,
that Australia had said it was prepared to be flexible on the
issue of natural resources if the UAE could define the scope
in a sufficiently narrow fashion. The UAE negotiators had
told him that they would not be able to respond during the
round. Deady noted that the broader question of whether the
GCC will permit the UAE to complete another bilateral FTA
negotiation (i.e., with Australia) is still open. Deady told
EconChief that he thought this would be the last full scale
formal round, with the remaining work conducted by smaller
teams of specialist negotiators (i.e., on investment). He
had not proposed dates for any follow-on meetings. Deady
said that the Australians would contact USTR directly to
provide a more detailed readout.
SISON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, EB/TPP/BTA
STATE PASS USTR FOR AUSTR DONNELLY AND BELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2016
TAGS: ETRD ECON AS AE
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA-UAE FTA: NATURAL RESOURCES A CONCERN
Classified By: Martin Quinn, Deputy Chief of Mission for reasons 1.4 (b
& d).
1. (C) On March 29, Australia's lead Australia-UAE negotiator
Stephen Deady (First A/S Trade Development Division,
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) gave EconChief a
quick update on the results of the March 27-29 negotiating
round. He described the week as "reasonable," but with no
breakthroughs. According to Deady, the UAE's services offer
represents an improvement on its initial offer, but the UAE
still needs to offer more.
2. (C) Deady said that the big issue was natural resources,
with the UAE stating that the FTA could not include natural
resources and the Australians arguing that a comprehensive
FTA could not exclude an entire sector. He added, however,
that Australia had said it was prepared to be flexible on the
issue of natural resources if the UAE could define the scope
in a sufficiently narrow fashion. The UAE negotiators had
told him that they would not be able to respond during the
round. Deady noted that the broader question of whether the
GCC will permit the UAE to complete another bilateral FTA
negotiation (i.e., with Australia) is still open. Deady told
EconChief that he thought this would be the last full scale
formal round, with the remaining work conducted by smaller
teams of specialist negotiators (i.e., on investment). He
had not proposed dates for any follow-on meetings. Deady
said that the Australians would contact USTR directly to
provide a more detailed readout.
SISON