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