Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MEXICO764
2006-02-10 21:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Mexico
Cable title:  

MEXICAN TRADE NEGOTIATOR ON NAFTA MINISTERIAL

Tags:  ETRD MX 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3373
PP RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #0764/01 0412159
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 102159Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8871
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 2166
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 000764 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EB/TPP, WHA/MEX, AND WHA/CAN
COMERCE FOR NAFTA OFFICE/ARUDMAN
PLEASE PASS USTR FOR JMELLE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD MX
SUBJECT: MEXICAN TRADE NEGOTIATOR ON NAFTA MINISTERIAL
AGENDA


Sensitive but unclassified, entire text.

Summary
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 000764

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EB/TPP, WHA/MEX, AND WHA/CAN
COMERCE FOR NAFTA OFFICE/ARUDMAN
PLEASE PASS USTR FOR JMELLE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD MX
SUBJECT: MEXICAN TRADE NEGOTIATOR ON NAFTA MINISTERIAL
AGENDA


Sensitive but unclassified, entire text.

Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) Mexican trade negotiator Ken Smith Ramos told us
February 2 that Mexico expected the upcoming proposed March
NAFTA Ministerial would cover the relationship between NAFTA
and the SPP, regulatory cooperation, development of a list of
panelists as set out in NAFTA Chapter 20, increased
flexibility rules of origin provisions, sectoral initiatives
in areas including steel and textiles, and development of a a
legal bridge between CAFTA and NAFTA to allow Central
American content in Mexican goods bound for the U.S. These
more technical issues would likely complement a ministerial
discussion of the WTO and the Doha Round, as well as NAFTA's
future. Smith noted Mexico's pleasure at recently resolving
issues like bone-in beef, cement, and pork, and noted that
these successes would help diffuse pressure on presidential
candidates to raise NAFTA renegotiation as a campaign issue.
End Summary.


2. (SBU) We met February 2 with Ken Smith Ramos, Director
General for International Trade Negotiations at the
Secretariat of the Economy, to pulse Mexican views on the

SIPDIS
agenda for the March 23 NAFTA ministerial in Acapulco, a
snapshot of current trade issues, and a look ahead to his own
future.

NAFTA Ministerial
--------------


3. (SBU) On the NAFTA ministerial, Ministers would
certainly deal with "systemic issues" such as the WTO and
Doha, as well as the future for the NAFTA relationship.
Procedurally, Smith noted that Canada has suggested holding
two NAFTA Deputy Ministers meetings per year to continue
working through technical details. Canada may also wish to
make specific proposals on modification of NAFTA dispute
resolution mechanisms that would not require textural changes.


4. (SBU) On the practical side, Smith suggested the
Ministers would open with a discussion of "pending programs"
like the SPP. He was most focused on how various NAFTA
groups relate to work being done under its auspices. He
noted that the GOM would try to push concepts of regulatory
cooperation and mutual recognition. Smith said that the
Mexicans would seek to use the Committee on Standards Related
Measures within the NAFTA context to push this idea. He

expected a document from the Department of Commerce shortly
outlining specific projects. He added that the National
Bureau of Standards is working with COFEMER (Commission on
Regulatory Improvement) in Mexico. Smith understood the
difficulties of making significant progress on mutual
recognition with the U.S., given the complexity of regulatory
structures on both sides.


5. (SBU) Smith suggested the ministers and their staffs
could work on developing a list of panelists under Chapter 20
of NAFTA. Article 2009 of the NAFTA calls for a consensus
roster of persons acceptable to all member countries.
Panelists must have expertise or experience in law,
international trade, other matters covered by NAFTA or the
resolution of disputes arising under international trade
agreements, and will be chosen strictly on the basis of
objectivity, reliability and sound judgment. Currently
there is no approved list of panelists. Smith added that
there were political issues to consider on all sides. He
added that both sides needed to advance in this area.


6. (SBU) On rules of origin, he suggested the ministers
could discuss "packages" for providing increased flexibility
on rules of origin for goods to be exported back to the U.S.
He offered that this would not provide the "big bang" result
from the ministerial that Mexico and the U.S, were seeking,
but would be welcome.


7. (SBU) On sectoral initiatives, Smith suggested that
draft policy papers be drafted on strengthening various
sectors including steel (putting together a newer steel
strategy) and textiles. The papers would form the basis
for a series of presidential recommendations, both offensive
and defensive, within the region. They could also deal with
smuggling and transshipment problems.


MEXICO 00000764 002 OF 002



8. (SBU) Ministers would also want to discuss a "bridge" to
join Mexico and CAFTA for the purpose of exports back to the
U.S. (i.e. goods from Mexico to be exported to the US can
have CAFTA content to make up rules of origin provision).
Currently there is no legal mechanism to join the two
agreements. Smith suggested that there would need to be
some U.S. system to verify and authorize CAFTA content in
Mexican goods exported to the U.S. under NAFTA. He added
that the Mexican Senate would have to approve such a scheme,
as it deals with NAFTA. Furthermore, any Senate approval
would be politically tough. At the same time, Mexico would
have to develop its own procedures with Central America.

Agricultural Trade
--------------


9. (SBU) On other issues, Mexico's National Organization of
Basic Grains Farmers (ANEC) had pressed Mexico to raise corn
and beans exports to the U.S. with an eye to relief from the
2008 border opening. Agreement between both sides to put the
issue into the existing NAFTA cooperation mechanism,
according to Smith, would provide "armor plating" for NAFTA
going into the 2008 final implementation, shifting away
pressure that had come from political campaigns (AMLO) to
stop short of opening the border in 2008. He added that many
on the U.S. side want to show progress, and that Mexico had
gotten rid of pork as an issue and had recently promulgated a
(albeit flawed) ruling to resolve the bone-in beef ban. The
long-standing anti-dumping case on cement had also been
largely resolved.


10. (SBU) Sugar, however, remained "hard." He had hoped for
further access to the U.S. market, and was ready for further
work, "hoping that the smoke cleared soon." With movement on
sugar, Smith was optimistic on further Mexican moves access
for fructose (HFCS). The window for action was closing
quickly with the coming election. With the election period
approaching a continued stream of positive announcements
would be helpful in moderating public opinion, and continued
creativity on both sides could help avoid more serious
problems.


11. (SBU) Still, he predicted that Mexican trade policy
would remain relatively constant even with an AMLO victory.
NAFTA had become part of Mexican political "fundamentals,"
and despite political rhetoric was unchangeable. Smith did
caution that both sides should work to ensure that trade
questions do not become linked to other "border issues."
Those that opposed full liberalization on the NAFTA schedule
were not above using the current discontent over the
Sensenbrenner legislation to support their anti-free trade
positions. Still, he remained optimistic that Economia could
keep trade from becoming a political football in the run-up
to July 2. Successes in the trade area underscored this
idea.

The Future
--------------


12. (SBU) As for his own future, given the different views
of the candidates, Smith said that while his job was not in
jeopardy, and despite the protection offered by the recently
reformed civil service law, he would be unlikely to remain in
place in an AMLO administration, though he was more sanguine
about remaining in his position after a PRI or PAN win.


Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity

KELLY