GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS: SUPPORT FOR THE JOINT

UNCLAS AMMAN 001896 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE PASS TO USTR - K. HAUDA DOC FOR USPTO - D. LASHLEY-JOHNSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR JO WTRO SUBJECT: GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS: SUPPORT FOR THE JOINT PROPOSAL ON THE MULTILATERAL SYSTEM FOR GI WINES AND SPIRITS - JORDAN REF: STATE 37657 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In response to reftel demarche to Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) contacts, a senior trade official said March 12 that while Jordan was still in the early stages of handling geographical indications (GIs),the Government of Jordan (GoJ) was inclined to endorse the "easiest, simplest system" and that the U.S.-sponsored "Joint Proposal" appeared to best match those criteria. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Acting Econ/C delivered reftel points - including additional, discretionary points - to two officers in the Industrial Property Directorate (IPD) of the Ministry of Industry and Trade who will eventually be tasked with adjudicating GIs under national law and registration requirements. These IPD officials, including the acting director, expressed their support for the "Joint Proposal" using a searchable database of all GIs for wines and spirits, which members would consult as they applied domestic laws consistent with current TRIPS obligations. ¶3. (SBU) In a separate discussion, MOIT Trade Policy Office Director Maha Ali noted that to date, Jordan had not yet registered GIs but was gearing up to do so. The concept is new to Jordan, Ali stated, and the GoJ did not have extensive resources to devote to elaborate, mandatory GI procedures. Ali added that Jordan would be inclined to adopt the "easiest, simplest system" for registering GI's while still meeting its WTO commitments. Ali said that the GoJ would see what it could do to support the U.S. position. HALE