LATVIA ON WTO GENEVA MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000518 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/28/2011 TAGS: ETRD PREL EUN WTO LG SUBJECT: LATVIA ON WTO GENEVA MEETING REF: STATE 104561 Classified By: Ambassador Catherine Todd Bailey. Reason 1.5 (D) ¶1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief delivered reftel points to Maija Manika, MFA U/S for Economic Issues June 28. Manika will accompany Economics Minister Stokenbergs to Geneva. Manika said that Latvia was among the EU member states urging a more flexible approach by the commission, but acknowledged that larger member states will decide the EU position. According to Manika, Latvia finds itself closer to the G-20 in wanting to see the U.S. do more on internal supports. Pol/Econ chief stressed that President Bush's offer was significant and that it was unrealistic for the U.S. to look at further cuts when the EU and others had yet to make similarly significant offers. Manika was very supportive on our position on market access, especially as regards Brazil and India. She urged the U.S. to work closely with the EU on incentives for the LDC's. Bailey