Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA5641
2006-09-28 06:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: TRADE AGREEMENT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING
how-toVZCZCXRO2654 PP RUEHDA DE RUEHAK #5641/01 2710648 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 280648Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9021 INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 1368 RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA PRIORITY 1153 RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
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
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
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