Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MEXICO829
2006-02-14 22:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Mexico
Cable title:
FOLLOWING THE APEC ROAD MAP
how-toVZCZCXRO7323 RR RUEHCD RUEHCHI RUEHFK RUEHGD RUEHHM RUEHHO RUEHKSO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHPB RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM DE RUEHME #0829/01 0452218 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 142218Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8959 INFO RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 000829
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ECON MX APECO ETRD
SUBJECT: FOLLOWING THE APEC ROAD MAP
REF: 06 STATE 14967
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 000829
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ECON MX APECO ETRD
SUBJECT: FOLLOWING THE APEC ROAD MAP
REF: 06 STATE 14967
1. (SBU) Summary: Econoff and Econ Specialist met February 9
with the Director of Multilateral and Regional Negotiations
for the Mexican Secretariat of Economy Flavia Farinetti de
Wiechers to discuss APEC 2006 initiatives and agenda.
Farinetti said that the GOM strongly supports Vietnam's road
map. She said that although they understand the strong tie
between security and economic prosperity, the Foreign
Ministry maintains the belief that APEC is not the proper
forum for security issues. At this time, the GOM does not
support the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific but Farinetti
noted that this could change pending a future review. End
Summary
2. (SBU) Econoff and Econ Specialist met February 9 with
Director of Multilateral and Regional Negotiations for the
Mexican Secretariat of Economy Flavia Farinetti de Wiechers
to discuss APEC 2006 initiatives and agenda. Farinetti
offered to have a follow-up meeting once the new Director
General of that division is named to replace Gerardo
Traslosheros, who recently left to become Mexico's
Representative to the OECD in Paris. Farinetti said the
current GOM agenda is consistent with Vietnam's priorities.
She mentioned that liberalizing trade and investment, working
on the WTO Doha Development Agenda, and strengthening
technical cooperation were especially important. She hoped
that the APEC community would continue working on the goals
they established in Busan and Bogor.
3. (SBU) Farinetti said the GOM understands that security and
trade are intertwined, and they try to ensure that security
matters don't become an obstacle to trade. She stated that
the Foreign Ministry (SRE) strongly believes that APEC is not
the right forum in which to address security issues unless
they are related to other important economic initiatives.
Farinetti pointed out that there are no high-ranking
officials in the GOM that are able to address national
security issues in APEC. However, the Secretariat of Economy
and the SRE both participate in an inter-ministerial
committee that works on terrorism issues.
4. (SBU) Although Farinetti expects further integration of
the region by 2010, she believes the GOM is not going to
press for a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP). She
believes only Chile and the Oceania countries are strongly
supporting the FTAAP. The GOM is more realistic and doesn't
believe the region is prepared for a free trade agreement
(FTA). However, she believes if a mid-term review of the
road map is positive, the GOM could change its mind.
5. (SBU) Another reason the GOM is apprehensive about a FTAAP
is that many countries are negotiating bilateral FTAs,
including Mexico. Despite the Mexican Executive's mandate to
postpone signing of more FTAs, the GOM continues to negotiate
a bilateral agreement with Korea. In addition, the GOM has
also approached China on a future agreement. Farinetti
admitted that the GOM faces strong opposition from Mexican
businessmen on both agreements. However, she continues to
spend about 50 percent of her time and resources working
towards a deal with China.
6. (SBU) Farinetti told Econoff and Econ Specialist that her
days in Mexico City are numbered. Traslosheros has asked her
to work in his office in Paris and she will likely accept and
leave her current position in May. She believes the July
Mexican elections will have little bearing on the GOM's
current APEC initiatives or on many bilateral initiatives.
The work of her office is so technical that Farinetti can't
imagine any of the candidates changing the GOM's positions or
initiatives in APEC. However, she admitted the new Director
General has the ability to make some small changes to their
agenda.
7. (SBU) Comment: Farinetti wasn't extremely forthcoming on
the GOM's specific agenda. We believe the Secretariat of
Economy still is waiting for the new Director General to be
named and to meet with the SRE before finalizing its
initiatives. Also, Farinetti seems to prefer working on APEC
issues with her Washington interlocutors. Within our
bilateral relationship, the U.S. and Mexico are working on a
number of the issues mentioned in reftel within the Security
and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) and other regional fora.
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity
MEXICO 00000829 002 OF 002
KELLY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ECON MX APECO ETRD
SUBJECT: FOLLOWING THE APEC ROAD MAP
REF: 06 STATE 14967
1. (SBU) Summary: Econoff and Econ Specialist met February 9
with the Director of Multilateral and Regional Negotiations
for the Mexican Secretariat of Economy Flavia Farinetti de
Wiechers to discuss APEC 2006 initiatives and agenda.
Farinetti said that the GOM strongly supports Vietnam's road
map. She said that although they understand the strong tie
between security and economic prosperity, the Foreign
Ministry maintains the belief that APEC is not the proper
forum for security issues. At this time, the GOM does not
support the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific but Farinetti
noted that this could change pending a future review. End
Summary
2. (SBU) Econoff and Econ Specialist met February 9 with
Director of Multilateral and Regional Negotiations for the
Mexican Secretariat of Economy Flavia Farinetti de Wiechers
to discuss APEC 2006 initiatives and agenda. Farinetti
offered to have a follow-up meeting once the new Director
General of that division is named to replace Gerardo
Traslosheros, who recently left to become Mexico's
Representative to the OECD in Paris. Farinetti said the
current GOM agenda is consistent with Vietnam's priorities.
She mentioned that liberalizing trade and investment, working
on the WTO Doha Development Agenda, and strengthening
technical cooperation were especially important. She hoped
that the APEC community would continue working on the goals
they established in Busan and Bogor.
3. (SBU) Farinetti said the GOM understands that security and
trade are intertwined, and they try to ensure that security
matters don't become an obstacle to trade. She stated that
the Foreign Ministry (SRE) strongly believes that APEC is not
the right forum in which to address security issues unless
they are related to other important economic initiatives.
Farinetti pointed out that there are no high-ranking
officials in the GOM that are able to address national
security issues in APEC. However, the Secretariat of Economy
and the SRE both participate in an inter-ministerial
committee that works on terrorism issues.
4. (SBU) Although Farinetti expects further integration of
the region by 2010, she believes the GOM is not going to
press for a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP). She
believes only Chile and the Oceania countries are strongly
supporting the FTAAP. The GOM is more realistic and doesn't
believe the region is prepared for a free trade agreement
(FTA). However, she believes if a mid-term review of the
road map is positive, the GOM could change its mind.
5. (SBU) Another reason the GOM is apprehensive about a FTAAP
is that many countries are negotiating bilateral FTAs,
including Mexico. Despite the Mexican Executive's mandate to
postpone signing of more FTAs, the GOM continues to negotiate
a bilateral agreement with Korea. In addition, the GOM has
also approached China on a future agreement. Farinetti
admitted that the GOM faces strong opposition from Mexican
businessmen on both agreements. However, she continues to
spend about 50 percent of her time and resources working
towards a deal with China.
6. (SBU) Farinetti told Econoff and Econ Specialist that her
days in Mexico City are numbered. Traslosheros has asked her
to work in his office in Paris and she will likely accept and
leave her current position in May. She believes the July
Mexican elections will have little bearing on the GOM's
current APEC initiatives or on many bilateral initiatives.
The work of her office is so technical that Farinetti can't
imagine any of the candidates changing the GOM's positions or
initiatives in APEC. However, she admitted the new Director
General has the ability to make some small changes to their
agenda.
7. (SBU) Comment: Farinetti wasn't extremely forthcoming on
the GOM's specific agenda. We believe the Secretariat of
Economy still is waiting for the new Director General to be
named and to meet with the SRE before finalizing its
initiatives. Also, Farinetti seems to prefer working on APEC
issues with her Washington interlocutors. Within our
bilateral relationship, the U.S. and Mexico are working on a
number of the issues mentioned in reftel within the Security
and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) and other regional fora.
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity
MEXICO 00000829 002 OF 002
KELLY