Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06GEORGETOWN236
2006-03-14 11:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Georgetown
Cable title:
DEMARCHE DELIVERED--GEOGRAPHIC INDICATORS
how-toVZCZCXRO7929 RR RUEHGR DE RUEHGE #0236 0731122 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 141122Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3252 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 000236
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR - KAREN HAUDA
COMMERCE PASS USPTO - DEBORAH LASHLEY-JOHNSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR WTRO GY
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED--GEOGRAPHIC INDICATORS
REF: STATE 37657
UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 000236
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR - KAREN HAUDA
COMMERCE PASS USPTO - DEBORAH LASHLEY-JOHNSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR WTRO GY
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED--GEOGRAPHIC INDICATORS
REF: STATE 37657
1. EconOff delivered demarche requested in reftel to
Neville Totaram, coordinator of the National Committee
for External Negotiations (NACEN) within the Ministry of
Foreign Trade and International Cooperation. Totaram was
aware of the U.S.-sponsored joint proposal as well as the
EC proposal. Totaram said Guyana does not plan to have
representation at the March 16-17 TRIPS Council Special
Session and has been only remotely involved in TRIPS
negotiations. He further said that Guyana would take
whatever position the Caribbean Regional Negotiating
Machinery (CRNM) would take on the subject. While not
intimately familiar with the subject, Totaram did say
that, in past analyses, the CRNM had reservations about
the binding nature of the EC proposal.
2. COMMENT: Guyana passed legislation to recognize
geographic indicators in July 2005 with an aim of
securing protection for the country's sugar and rum
exports. At the time, Minister of Foreign Trade, Clement
Rohee, mentioned the need to develop the capacity of the
Deeds Office, which has been receiving assistance from
the World Intellectual Property Organization. The
argument that the EC proposal would tax already strained
resources in developing countries by placing the review
and enforcement burden on governments rather than private
rights holders is thus especially likely to resonate with
Guyanese negotiators. END COMMENT.
BULLEN
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR - KAREN HAUDA
COMMERCE PASS USPTO - DEBORAH LASHLEY-JOHNSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR WTRO GY
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED--GEOGRAPHIC INDICATORS
REF: STATE 37657
1. EconOff delivered demarche requested in reftel to
Neville Totaram, coordinator of the National Committee
for External Negotiations (NACEN) within the Ministry of
Foreign Trade and International Cooperation. Totaram was
aware of the U.S.-sponsored joint proposal as well as the
EC proposal. Totaram said Guyana does not plan to have
representation at the March 16-17 TRIPS Council Special
Session and has been only remotely involved in TRIPS
negotiations. He further said that Guyana would take
whatever position the Caribbean Regional Negotiating
Machinery (CRNM) would take on the subject. While not
intimately familiar with the subject, Totaram did say
that, in past analyses, the CRNM had reservations about
the binding nature of the EC proposal.
2. COMMENT: Guyana passed legislation to recognize
geographic indicators in July 2005 with an aim of
securing protection for the country's sugar and rum
exports. At the time, Minister of Foreign Trade, Clement
Rohee, mentioned the need to develop the capacity of the
Deeds Office, which has been receiving assistance from
the World Intellectual Property Organization. The
argument that the EC proposal would tax already strained
resources in developing countries by placing the review
and enforcement burden on governments rather than private
rights holders is thus especially likely to resonate with
Guyanese negotiators. END COMMENT.
BULLEN