TRADE MINISTER BACKS NEGOTIATING WITH USTR

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