Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV4466
2006-11-08 17:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
TRADE MINISTER BACKS NEGOTIATING WITH USTR
how-tonull Carol X Weakley 11/09/2006 02:51:19 PM From DB/Inbox: Carol X Weakley Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 04466 SIPDIS CXTelA: ACTION: ECON INFO: CONS RES POL DCM AMB AID ADM FCS PD IPSC SCI IMO DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:RHJONES DRAFTED: ECON:JNWITOW CLEARED: ECON:WWEINSTEIN, ECON:BMASILKO VZCZCTVI427 OO RUEHC RUEHXK DE RUEHTV #4466 3121709 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 081709Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7505 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 004466
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR ESAUMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016
TAGS: ECON ETRD IS
SUBJECT: TRADE MINISTER BACKS NEGOTIATING WITH USTR
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 004466
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR ESAUMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016
TAGS: ECON ETRD IS
SUBJECT: TRADE MINISTER BACKS NEGOTIATING WITH USTR
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. Summary. (C) At an impromptu meeting while Minister of
Industry, Trade, and Labor (MOITAL) Eli Yishai was visiting
the Embassy on a consular matter, Yishai told the Ambassador
that he fully supports engagement on bilateral trade issues,
possibly including updating the U.S.-Israel Free Trade
Agreement (FTA),and would urge his Deputy Director General
to meet with USTR next week in New York to begin discussions
on trade issues. End Summary.
2. (C) Ambassador began by noting the need to update the
twenty year old U.S.-Israel FTA with a view towards
integrating it into the President's plan for a region-wide
Middle East FTA (MEFTA) which is slated to come into effect
by 2013. He added that the U.S.-Israel FTA specifically
needs upgrading with regard to trade in services, and
standards, and that USTR wants to meet with MOITAL's DDG in
New York to discuss these issues.
3. (C) Yishai responded that he would make every possible
effort to facilitate the meeting. If 2013 is the target date
for a MEFTA, work must begin immediately to overcome
technical barriers to an agreement. Yishai pledged to find
time for the meeting next week -- without being hindered by
the requirements of protocol -- to begin work on an MOU.
4. (C) In a follow-on conversation with Deputy EconCouns,
Yishai said that in order to emphasize the importance of the
negotiations, he himself would meet for a short time with the
USTR Middle East Director before the substantive meeting at
the working level. He told his staffer to ensure that the
New York schedule be arranged so that the working meeting can
last for up to two hours.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR ESAUMS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016
TAGS: ECON ETRD IS
SUBJECT: TRADE MINISTER BACKS NEGOTIATING WITH USTR
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. Summary. (C) At an impromptu meeting while Minister of
Industry, Trade, and Labor (MOITAL) Eli Yishai was visiting
the Embassy on a consular matter, Yishai told the Ambassador
that he fully supports engagement on bilateral trade issues,
possibly including updating the U.S.-Israel Free Trade
Agreement (FTA),and would urge his Deputy Director General
to meet with USTR next week in New York to begin discussions
on trade issues. End Summary.
2. (C) Ambassador began by noting the need to update the
twenty year old U.S.-Israel FTA with a view towards
integrating it into the President's plan for a region-wide
Middle East FTA (MEFTA) which is slated to come into effect
by 2013. He added that the U.S.-Israel FTA specifically
needs upgrading with regard to trade in services, and
standards, and that USTR wants to meet with MOITAL's DDG in
New York to discuss these issues.
3. (C) Yishai responded that he would make every possible
effort to facilitate the meeting. If 2013 is the target date
for a MEFTA, work must begin immediately to overcome
technical barriers to an agreement. Yishai pledged to find
time for the meeting next week -- without being hindered by
the requirements of protocol -- to begin work on an MOU.
4. (C) In a follow-on conversation with Deputy EconCouns,
Yishai said that in order to emphasize the importance of the
negotiations, he himself would meet for a short time with the
USTR Middle East Director before the substantive meeting at
the working level. He told his staffer to ensure that the
New York schedule be arranged so that the working meeting can
last for up to two hours.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES