Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO4713
2006-08-17 06:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN HESITANT TO JOIN WTO DISPUTE ON CHINA IPR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #4713 2290621 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 170621Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5492 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3806
UNCLAS TOKYO 004713
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR E, EAP/J,EAP/CH CRANE, EAP/EP,EB/TPP/IPE FELSING,
AND EB/TPP/BTA SAEGER
EAP/J PLEASE PASS TO USTR POSNER (OGC),WINTER (CHINA) AND
MCCOY
(IPR)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ECON ETRD AORC WTRO CH JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN HESITANT TO JOIN WTO DISPUTE ON CHINA IPR
REF: SECSTATE 126684
Japan is reluctant to join the United States in a WTO case
against China on IPR, Trade Ministry Director General for
Trade Policy Masakazu Toyoda told EMIN on August 17. Toyoda
said METI's hesitation is based on two elements:
UNCLAS TOKYO 004713
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR E, EAP/J,EAP/CH CRANE, EAP/EP,EB/TPP/IPE FELSING,
AND EB/TPP/BTA SAEGER
EAP/J PLEASE PASS TO USTR POSNER (OGC),WINTER (CHINA) AND
MCCOY
(IPR)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ECON ETRD AORC WTRO CH JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN HESITANT TO JOIN WTO DISPUTE ON CHINA IPR
REF: SECSTATE 126684
Japan is reluctant to join the United States in a WTO case
against China on IPR, Trade Ministry Director General for
Trade Policy Masakazu Toyoda told EMIN on August 17. Toyoda
said METI's hesitation is based on two elements: 1) METI is
not convinced that TRIPS provides a good basis for a WTO case
and the ministry needs to study the issue more carefully; 2)
Trade Minister Nikai prefers to assist the Chinese to help
them to improve their IPR standards and enforcement. For now
Japan is in "waiting mode" and needs to give China more time,
Toyoda explained. Nevertheless Japan would like to cooperate
with the USG in other ways on this issue and is not opposed
to taking China to the WTO in principle. Toyoda asked that
we keep the GOJ closely informed on our discussions with the
Chinese and our consideration of WTO case, as well as the
views of other interested parties such as Canada and the EU.
DCM and EMIN also raised the issue in a meeting with
Assistant Cabinet Secretary Hiroyasu Ando on August 14. Ando
received our demarche without comment.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR E, EAP/J,EAP/CH CRANE, EAP/EP,EB/TPP/IPE FELSING,
AND EB/TPP/BTA SAEGER
EAP/J PLEASE PASS TO USTR POSNER (OGC),WINTER (CHINA) AND
MCCOY
(IPR)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ECON ETRD AORC WTRO CH JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN HESITANT TO JOIN WTO DISPUTE ON CHINA IPR
REF: SECSTATE 126684
Japan is reluctant to join the United States in a WTO case
against China on IPR, Trade Ministry Director General for
Trade Policy Masakazu Toyoda told EMIN on August 17. Toyoda
said METI's hesitation is based on two elements: 1) METI is
not convinced that TRIPS provides a good basis for a WTO case
and the ministry needs to study the issue more carefully; 2)
Trade Minister Nikai prefers to assist the Chinese to help
them to improve their IPR standards and enforcement. For now
Japan is in "waiting mode" and needs to give China more time,
Toyoda explained. Nevertheless Japan would like to cooperate
with the USG in other ways on this issue and is not opposed
to taking China to the WTO in principle. Toyoda asked that
we keep the GOJ closely informed on our discussions with the
Chinese and our consideration of WTO case, as well as the
views of other interested parties such as Canada and the EU.
DCM and EMIN also raised the issue in a meeting with
Assistant Cabinet Secretary Hiroyasu Ando on August 14. Ando
received our demarche without comment.
SCHIEFFER