Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRAGUE743
2006-06-30 15:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Prague
Cable title:
CZECH RESPONSE ON WTO DOHA DEMARCHE: US OFFER
how-toVZCZCXRO6327 RR RUEHDE RUEHHM RUEHMR RUEHPB DE RUEHPG #0743 1811525 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 301525Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7577 INFO RUCNWTO/WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5568
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000743
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE ERIC FICHTE, EB/TPP/BTA/EWH
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR LISA ERRION
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016
TAGS: WTRO ETRD ECON EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH RESPONSE ON WTO DOHA DEMARCHE: US OFFER
FALLS SHORT
REF: A. STATE 104561
B. PRAGUE 1496
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000743
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE ERIC FICHTE, EB/TPP/BTA/EWH
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR LISA ERRION
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016
TAGS: WTRO ETRD ECON EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH RESPONSE ON WTO DOHA DEMARCHE: US OFFER
FALLS SHORT
REF: A. STATE 104561
B. PRAGUE 1496
1. (U) Acting Pol-Econ Counselor and Econoff met with EU
Multilateral Trade Policy and Common Policy Director
Ladislava Votavova at the Ministry of Industry and Trade to
deliver Ref A demarche. Votavova cautioned that completing
the round by the end of the year might not be plausible given
the on-going problems negotiating the modalities. She
mentioned that there has been little progress on this issue
since April, and that it was difficult to envision a way
forward other than a political solution. She furthered noted
that since such a political solution was not done at the
US-EU summit in Vienna, it was hard to foresee one in the
future.
2. (C/NF) Votavova described the mood within the EU on Doha
as "calm," particularly compared to the lead-up to the
December 2005 Hong Kong ministerial meeting. Before Hong
Kong, EU member states were rather frantic given the
divergent views among EU nations on agriculture market access
and responding to the USG proposal (Ref B). Votavova
explained that the current calm in the lead up to the EU
ministerial June 26 - July 2 meeting is derived from widely
shared EU consensus that the current EU offer is the best
possible. She said that after Hong Kong differences were
resolved and now there is greater consensus among EU nations
to present a united front.
3. (U) Comment: Votavova is on the Czech delegation to the
June 26 - July 2 meeting, which will be led by Deputy
Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Tlapa. Votavova has
consistently proved to be an open and reliable source of
information on internal EU dynamics on trade matters. Her
sobering assessment is that there is little room for
flexibility on the EU side. This is a turnaround for the
Czechs (Ref B). End comment.
CABANISS
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE ERIC FICHTE, EB/TPP/BTA/EWH
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR LISA ERRION
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016
TAGS: WTRO ETRD ECON EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH RESPONSE ON WTO DOHA DEMARCHE: US OFFER
FALLS SHORT
REF: A. STATE 104561
B. PRAGUE 1496
1. (U) Acting Pol-Econ Counselor and Econoff met with EU
Multilateral Trade Policy and Common Policy Director
Ladislava Votavova at the Ministry of Industry and Trade to
deliver Ref A demarche. Votavova cautioned that completing
the round by the end of the year might not be plausible given
the on-going problems negotiating the modalities. She
mentioned that there has been little progress on this issue
since April, and that it was difficult to envision a way
forward other than a political solution. She furthered noted
that since such a political solution was not done at the
US-EU summit in Vienna, it was hard to foresee one in the
future.
2. (C/NF) Votavova described the mood within the EU on Doha
as "calm," particularly compared to the lead-up to the
December 2005 Hong Kong ministerial meeting. Before Hong
Kong, EU member states were rather frantic given the
divergent views among EU nations on agriculture market access
and responding to the USG proposal (Ref B). Votavova
explained that the current calm in the lead up to the EU
ministerial June 26 - July 2 meeting is derived from widely
shared EU consensus that the current EU offer is the best
possible. She said that after Hong Kong differences were
resolved and now there is greater consensus among EU nations
to present a united front.
3. (U) Comment: Votavova is on the Czech delegation to the
June 26 - July 2 meeting, which will be led by Deputy
Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Tlapa. Votavova has
consistently proved to be an open and reliable source of
information on internal EU dynamics on trade matters. Her
sobering assessment is that there is little room for
flexibility on the EU side. This is a turnaround for the
Czechs (Ref B). End comment.
CABANISS