Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ALGIERS1331
2006-07-18 09:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:  

DEMARCHE ON WTO ACCESSION DELIVERED TO ALGERIAN

Tags:  ETRD ECON WTRO AG 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAS #1331/01 1990959
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 180959Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1613
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0367
UNCLAS ALGIERS 001331 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO USTR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON WTRO AG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON WTO ACCESSION DELIVERED TO ALGERIAN
WTO COORDINATOR

REF: A. STATE 108034


B. ALGIERS 1299

UNCLAS ALGIERS 001331

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO USTR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON WTRO AG
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON WTO ACCESSION DELIVERED TO ALGERIAN
WTO COORDINATOR

REF: A. STATE 108034


B. ALGIERS 1299


1. (SBU) PolEC Chief delivered Ref A demarche July 17 to
Ministry of Commerce Director General for Foreign Trade
Cherif Zaaf, who serves concurrently as Algeria's WTO
coordinator. Ambassador previously delivered the same
demarche to MFA Americas Director General Selmane (Ref B).
Leaving behind non-papers in French and English, PolEc Chief
highlighted strong U.S. support for Algerian WTO accession,
our extensive technical assistance designed to facilitate the
accession process, and our favorable view in principle of FM
Bedjaoui's proposal to schedule expert-level discussions. At
the same time, PolEc Chief also conveyed our conclusion, with
regret, that absent revised Algerian offers in certain areas,
there did not seem to be a basis for bilateral talks at this
time. PolEc Chief explained that Ambassador, before
departing country, had delivered this demarche to the MFA in
the first instance because it was our response to the
proposal that FM Bedjaoui had made during his April visit to
Washington.

A FRUSTRATING PROCESS FOR BOTH SIDES
--------------


2. (SBU) After presenting PolEc Chief a thorough, detailed
history of Algeria's efforts to accede to the WTO, Zaaf
underscored the GOA's readiness to clarify any and all
aspects of its responses. He noted that former Deputy
Secretary Zoellick, during an April meeting in Washington

SIPDIS
with FM Bedjaoui, had accepted to form a U.S.-Algerian
working group on WTO issues, as proposed by the FM. Zaaf
said face-to-face encounters with USTR personnel in Geneva
were essential to satisfying the concerns of the U.S.
negotiators. Zaaf complained that U.S. negotiators often
failed at the last minute to show up to meetings with their
Algerian counterparts. He cited as an example the October
21, 2005, meeting at which he said the U.S. team did not
appear. Zaaf concluded that the GOA could not understand
what the U.S. wanted absent meetings where precise requests
could be made. At the same time, Zaaf stressed the GOA
desire for advice and expertise from the U.S.


3. (SBU) Reiterating departed Ambassador Erdman's points to
MFA, PolEc Chief explained that Algerian slowness in

responding to questions left the impression that Algeria was
not taking this issue seriously. PolEc Chief acknowledged
that the accession process had been frustrating for both
sides. The Algerian side was frustrated with the slowness of
the process and the repeated questions seeking clarification.
For its part, the United States was disappointed because we
felt we had gone to great lengths to assist the Algerian
side, providing technical assistance and expertise,
furnishing analytical papers, coaching on how to answer
questions, and proposing to accelerate the question and
answer process by informally vetting proposed answers before
they were sent to Geneva for formal circulation.


4. (SBU) PolEc Chief understood the quality of the Algerian
responses reviewed to date had not been what we had hoped.
It was important to answer questions in a way that did not
raise additional questions needing clarification, PolEc Chief
advised. Another source of delay in the accession process
was the reluctance of the Algerian delegation, during
sessions in Geneva, to answer questions on the spot.
Insisting on written questions and responses was a much more
time-consuming method. PolEc Chief urged Zaaf to emphasize
the quality of the responses over the quantity submitted and
encouraged less formality in the Algerian approach.
Americans, like Algerians, valued frankness and clarity,
observed PolEc Chief.

NO POSSIBILITY OF ACCESSION IN 2006
--------------


5. (SBU) PolEc Chief noted that the target dates for WTO
accession continued to slip. When PolEc Chief was first
assigned to his current job, Algeria was expected to accede
by the end of 2005. At the end of that year, the target date
slipped to 2006. There was now virtually no possibility of
Algeria achieving accession this year. PolEc Chief
underscored that it was in Algeria's interest to accede as
soon as possible, since the accession of each new member
state potentially raised the bar for what would be expected
of candidate countries. Saudi Arabia, for example, had made
a generous offer on energy services, and this meant the
international community would now not be prepared to accept a
less generous offer from newer members.


6. (SBU) Zaaf said Algeria wanted to accede to WTO as soon
as possible. Noting there were 111 sub-sectors in the
Algerian services sector, Zaaf asked that the U.S. provide
him a list of our priority sub-sectors. Zaaf said there had
been many Algerian efforts to address U.S. concerns over
time, in close dialogue and cooperation with the U.S. If
Algerian responses to date were considered insufficient, Zaaf
offered to furnish supplementary materials for any sectors of
interest to the U.S. He also observed that USTR owed Algeria
a response in the agricultural area. Zaaf concluded that
Algeria's greatest need was to continue dialogue and
discussion with USTR as well as continue to benefit from U.S.
technical assistance and expertise.


SIEVERS