THAILAND APEC PRIORITIES

UNCLAS BANGKOK 005100 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: ECON APECO TH SUBJECT: THAILAND APEC PRIORITIES REF: SECSTATE 121653 ¶1. On August 9, Econoff met with Mr. Winachai Chaemchaeng, Deputy Director General of the Department of Trade Negotiations, and presented talking points per reftel. Winachai said the USG's priority on trade facilitation tracked most closely with RTG priorities. Thailand was working closely with the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore to establish a single window system and hoped to have it in place by 2008. Winichai noted that Japan had promised technical assistance as well. ¶2. Winichai said the RTG would be placing its highest priority on cooperation in general. The RTG had already circulated papers on cooperation and SPS and is planning to circulate another on trade remedies later in August. ¶3. In a separate meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Bureau of International Economic Affairs, Ms. Morakot Sriswasdi said that for the moment Thailand supported extension of the CTTF mandate. The RTG position will not be official until the SOM, but Morakot did not expect any changes. The RTG was not planning to propose any new nominee for the CTTF chair, but would be willing to consider other candidates. Morakot stressed, however, that the RTG had no problems continuing with the current chair. ¶4. Winichai and Morakot separately had questions over the proposed APEC Executive Director position. Morakot questioned how the position would be arranged, Winichai wondered if the position could be established as it is in the OECD. Morakot questioned also whether there was broad support for the position within APEC and where the funds for the position would be found. BOYCE