DEMARCHE DELIVERED--GEOGRAPHIC INDICATORS

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