Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT1671
2006-05-10 13:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

KUWAITI IMPLEMENTATION OF ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT

Tags:  KBCT ABLD PHUM PIRF AL KU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9814
PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHGI RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHMOS RUEHPW
DE RUEHKU #1671 1301315
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 101315Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4396
INFO RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS KUWAIT 001671 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO USTR PBURKHEAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KBCT ABLD PHUM PIRF AL KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI IMPLEMENTATION OF ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT

REF: STATE 66895

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001671

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO USTR PBURKHEAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KBCT ABLD PHUM PIRF AL KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI IMPLEMENTATION OF ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT

REF: STATE 66895


1. This cable is in response to Reftel action request.


2. Kuwait's 1981 Commercial Law, Article 62, states that
Kuwait will follow the lead of the Arab League Boycott Office
with regards to implementation of the boycott. In 1994, in
accordance with a GCC decision, Kuwait announced the
elimination of the secondary and tertiary aspects of the Arab
League Boycott (ALB) of the State of Israel, and has taken
steps to eliminate all direct references to the ALB in its
commercial documents. There are occasional reports that some
tender requests contain boycott clauses reportable under U.S.
anti-boycott laws, but these usually result from clerical
errors or the use of outdated forms. Although Kuwaiti law
does not include any specific language referring to or
mandating a boycott of Israeli goods, Kuwait still applies a
boycott on products "Made in Israel." There are no boycott
compliance questionnaires or other GOK activity related to
seeking information about business activities companies may
have with Israel. Kuwait does not blacklist companies that
conduct business with Israel.


3. With respect to Kuwait's Commercial Code, companies
importing products "Made in Israel" will have those products
confiscated. If a part or component of a finished product is
produced in Israel, only that part or component will be
confiscated with the remainder of the shipment cleared for
importation. The GOK does not specifically request that U.S.
firms comply with the ALB. Infractions of the primary
boycott are not part of the criminal code, and U.S. companies
have had very little customs clearance delay when a part or
component was determined to be of Israeli origin.


4. Vendors with which Post does business are not known to
individually comply with the ALB or other international
boycotts.


5. Kuwait maintains an open boycott office in its Customs
department and regularly attends ALB meetings. The boycott
office is not particularly aggressive, and only denies entry
to Israeli-made items or components.


6. Because the GOK supports the primary aspect of the ALB,
it does not take steps to correct enforcement by it's own
boycott office, nor does it correct compliance requests by
private entities.

********************************************
For more Embassy Kuwait reporting, see:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/cables

Or Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************
LEBARON