Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TAIPEI3454
2006-10-05 09:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
TAIWAN CONSIDERS NEW PUSH FOR WTO GPA
how-toVZCZCXRO0472 RR RUEHGH DE RUEHIN #3454 2780941 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 050941Z OCT 06 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2497 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5744 RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 9601 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 6959 RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0422 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1780 RUEHC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS TAIPEI 003454
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR
STATE FOR EAP/TC,
USTR FOR GRIER AND ALTBACH,
USDOC FOR 4431/ITA/MAC/AP/OPB/TAIWAN/JDUTTON
USDA/FAS FOR SHEIKH/MIRELES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL WTRO TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN CONSIDERS NEW PUSH FOR WTO GPA
REF: TAIPEI 166303
UNCLAS TAIPEI 003454
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR
STATE FOR EAP/TC,
USTR FOR GRIER AND ALTBACH,
USDOC FOR 4431/ITA/MAC/AP/OPB/TAIWAN/JDUTTON
USDA/FAS FOR SHEIKH/MIRELES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL WTRO TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN CONSIDERS NEW PUSH FOR WTO GPA
REF: TAIPEI 166303
1. AIT ECON Chief delivered reftel demarche jointly with EC
Representative Brian McDonald on October 5 to Ministry of
Economic Affairs Deputy Minister Hsieh Fa-dah. Utilizing
reftel points, Econ Chief emphasized the need to move forward
on Taiwan's long-standing commitment to open up Taiwan's
government procurement market. He asked for a rapid response
from Hsieh so the U.S. and the EC could make another effort
at the WTO to secure agreement for Taiwan to accede to the
Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). Econ Chief noted the
U.S. is not confident the new proposal would be acceptable to
China while underscoring our view that the existing U.S. - EC
footnote proposal is a fair and reasonable way to resolve
outstanding differences.
2. McDonald presented to Hsieh the EC's proposed language
for Taiwan's accession. AIT/T has sent the EC's proposed
text to EAP/TC, USTR (Eric Altbach) and AIT/W by unclassified
email. Econ Chief told Hsieh the U.S. has not yet agreed to
the specific language, but is working closely with the EC on
the text and tactics to get Taiwan into the GPA. He and
McDonald asked Hsieh for a rapid response from the Taiwan
side so we can move this issue forward. Econ Chief noted the
U.S. desire to move forward on a bilateral government
procurement agreement with Taiwan if efforts for a
multilateral agreement fail. McDonald said the EC would also
seek a bilateral agreement in the same circumstances.
3. Hsieh said Taiwan would seriously consider the new
proposal from the U.S. and the EC and respond. He said this
issue will require careful review before Taiwan can respond
because it is a very sensitive issue involving sovereignty.
He reiterated Taiwan's strong desire to join the GPA while
noting Taiwan could not accept the existing U.S. - EC
proposal because of its references to sovereignty.
WANG
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USTR
STATE FOR EAP/TC,
USTR FOR GRIER AND ALTBACH,
USDOC FOR 4431/ITA/MAC/AP/OPB/TAIWAN/JDUTTON
USDA/FAS FOR SHEIKH/MIRELES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL WTRO TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN CONSIDERS NEW PUSH FOR WTO GPA
REF: TAIPEI 166303
1. AIT ECON Chief delivered reftel demarche jointly with EC
Representative Brian McDonald on October 5 to Ministry of
Economic Affairs Deputy Minister Hsieh Fa-dah. Utilizing
reftel points, Econ Chief emphasized the need to move forward
on Taiwan's long-standing commitment to open up Taiwan's
government procurement market. He asked for a rapid response
from Hsieh so the U.S. and the EC could make another effort
at the WTO to secure agreement for Taiwan to accede to the
Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). Econ Chief noted the
U.S. is not confident the new proposal would be acceptable to
China while underscoring our view that the existing U.S. - EC
footnote proposal is a fair and reasonable way to resolve
outstanding differences.
2. McDonald presented to Hsieh the EC's proposed language
for Taiwan's accession. AIT/T has sent the EC's proposed
text to EAP/TC, USTR (Eric Altbach) and AIT/W by unclassified
email. Econ Chief told Hsieh the U.S. has not yet agreed to
the specific language, but is working closely with the EC on
the text and tactics to get Taiwan into the GPA. He and
McDonald asked Hsieh for a rapid response from the Taiwan
side so we can move this issue forward. Econ Chief noted the
U.S. desire to move forward on a bilateral government
procurement agreement with Taiwan if efforts for a
multilateral agreement fail. McDonald said the EC would also
seek a bilateral agreement in the same circumstances.
3. Hsieh said Taiwan would seriously consider the new
proposal from the U.S. and the EC and respond. He said this
issue will require careful review before Taiwan can respond
because it is a very sensitive issue involving sovereignty.
He reiterated Taiwan's strong desire to join the GPA while
noting Taiwan could not accept the existing U.S. - EC
proposal because of its references to sovereignty.
WANG