TURKEY: TRADE AGREEMENT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005641 SIPDIS STATE/EB/TPP/MTA FOR EKOCH DEPT PASS USTR FOR HIRSH COMMERCE/TCC/4110; MICHAEL ROLLIN USDA/ITP/FAS/BERTSCH SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: TRADE AGREEMENT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING REF: STATE 152063 ¶1. The following describes how Post is organized to monitor compliance with trade agreements and our efforts to monitor and respond to trade barrier complaints. Answers are keyed to correspond to reftel questions. ¶2. (A) Our Economic Section cooperates closely with Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) offices to monitor trade agreement compliance and respond to foreign trade barrier complaints. The Economic, Agricultural, and Commercial Counselors meet biweekly to discuss trade issues and coordinate responses. Individual officers interact on a daily basis. ¶3. (B) Post POC for compliance reporting and complaints is: Rebecca ¶J. Kimbrell, Economic Officer, (90)(312)455-5555 x. 2255 or kimbrellrj@state.gov. ¶4. (C) Following are examples of how Post has responded to trade complaints: Rice -------------- U.S. rice importers complained that Turkey's licensing and domestic purchase requirements for rice imports unfairly denied them access to Turkey's rice market. Our Economic Section worked with FAS to raise these concerns with GOT officials. Together, we discussed the issue with the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (FTU) and with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA). We coordinated reports back to Washington agencies and shared the information that we received. We also cooperated on briefing papers and talking points for the Ambassador to discuss during his relevant meetings. When the U.S. Government decided to take the case to the WTO Dispute Settlement Body, we worked together to ensure that USTR had the information it needed to prepare for this case. We continue to coordinate our communication to the GOT about this issue and FAS works closely with importers to monitor changes in GOT's rice import requirements. Pet Food -------------- U.S. pet food importers complained that new Turkish certification requirements for dioxin presented an unfair barrier to trade in contravention of the principle of national treatment. Through a series of letters and meetings with MARA and FTU officials, FAS succeeded in having these restrictions lifted, facilitating U.S. pet food imports to Turkey. Product Labeling and Standardization -------------- Economic and FCS officers at Post coordinate with DOC and State Department desk officers on labeling and standards issues. Most recently, DOC and State Department officers reinforced our messages about labeling and standardization issues during calls on FTU, Turkish Customs and Ministry of Trade and Industry officials. We work with our contacts in Washington to draft briefings for senior officials and official correspondence on these issues to GOT officials. WTO TRIPS Compliance and IPR issues -------------- Post concentrates a great deal of time and effort on IPR compliance. In addition to required reporting, such as the Special 301 report and the National Trade Estimate report, our FCS and Economic Sections work together to monitor TRIPS Compliance and IPR-related complaints. FCS and Economic Officers meet regularly with local PhRMA member representatives and EU and GOT officials and coordinate regular reporting on the issue. We worked closely with industry and Washington agencies to push for the adoption of the more stringent pharmaceutical data protection legislation, which came into effect in January 2005. In addition, we continue to monitor the GOT's implementation and compliance of this legislation and its TRIPS obligations. Patent, Copyright and Industrial Design Laws -------------- Economic and FCS officers worked closely with industry, Washington agencies, and local NGOs to encourage the passage of Turkey's strengthened copyright, patent and industrial design laws. We ANKARA 00005641 002 OF 002 continue to meet with GOT, NGO and industry officials to ensure that these laws are implemented and enforced. In addition, we continue to nominate GOT officials for USPTO and Washington Agency training programs, including Department International Visitor (IV) programs. ¶5. (D) FAS, FCS and ECON meet regularly with industry and GOT officials, study media and NGO reports for new information, and monitor the legislative agenda for updates or changes. When we note changes, we ensure that we report this information to Washington agencies. Most recently, we reported on changes to the strengthened copyright law that would have reduced penalties for infringers. We alerted NGOs and government officials to our concerns and worked with relevant Washington agencies to ensure that our message was communicated in the U.S. as well as in Turkey. WILSON