MOZAMBIQUE TRADE MINISTER LETTER TO AUSTR ON WTO

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000319 SIPDIS SIPDIS AF/S FOR HTREGER USTR FOR PCOLEMAN MCC FOR SGAULL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD MZ SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE TRADE MINISTER LETTER TO AUSTR ON WTO MARKET OPENING ¶1. Following is the text of a letter post has received from the Minister of Industry and Commerce Antonio Fernando to Assistant USTR Florizelle Liser. Post has faxed this text to USTR for Patrick Coleman. Please advise if any reply is anticipated. ¶2. Begin Text: Dear Mrs. Liser, Let me take this opportunity to express my appreciation for all progress made so far regarding the Mozambique-United States of America TIFA and to assure you that our country will put all its energy to accomplish all the goals expected from the Agreement and the work plan. It is our understanding that with this agreement, our trade and investments relations will strengthen and grow, contributing to job creation and poverty alleviation in Mozambique. The fact that WTO Developed Members have agreed to open their markets to duty and quota-free imports originating from Least Developed Countries constitutes an important step forward which we strongly believe will complement TIFA. Mozambique is very keen that the 97% of duty- and quota-free tariff lines should include all products of particular interest to us so that we may make effective use of this market access concession. We would like to count on your support in this regard. I am confident that with our joint efforts we will be able successfully to implement TIFA in order to bring prosperity and welfare to our people. I look forward to continuing to work with you. Please accept my very best regards. Yours sincerely, Antonio Fernando, Minister End Text of Letter. La Lime