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