Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENNA2447
2006-08-17 13:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

AUSTRIA NOT READY TO SUPPORT WTO CONSULTATIONS

Tags:  ECON ETRD AORC KIPR EURM WTRO USTR CH AU 
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VZCZCXRO3289
PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ
DE RUEHVI #2447 2291353
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171353Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4611
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0282
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
UNCLAS VIENNA 002447 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/AGS (SAINT-ANDRE),EAP/CM (CRANE),EB/TPP/BTA
(SAEGER),AND EB/TPP/IPE (FELSING)
USTR (POSNER, WINTER, AND MCCOY)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD AORC KIPR EURM WTRO USTR CH AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA NOT READY TO SUPPORT WTO CONSULTATIONS
WITH CHINA ON IPR

REF: STATE 126703

UNCLAS VIENNA 002447

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/AGS (SAINT-ANDRE),EAP/CM (CRANE),EB/TPP/BTA
(SAEGER),AND EB/TPP/IPE (FELSING)
USTR (POSNER, WINTER, AND MCCOY)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD AORC KIPR EURM WTRO USTR CH AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA NOT READY TO SUPPORT WTO CONSULTATIONS
WITH CHINA ON IPR

REF: STATE 126703


1. (SBU) On August 9, Acting EconPolCouns delivered reftel
points to Gabriela Habermayer, Head of the Ministry of
Economy's Multilateral Trade Division. Habermayer said that
the EU Commission has not yet formally discussed the U.S.
request for WTO dispute settlement consultations. Habermayer
noted that the Commission's current strategy is to maintain
close contact with China to develop a joint Action Plan on
IPR enforcement with Beijing. She said that China has agreed
to present its proposed legal changes regarding IPR
enforcement to the EU for discussion. Habermayer thought
these discussions with China would take place in the autumn.
Therefore, at the moment, it would be premature for the EU to
seek WTO consultations.


2. (SBU) In Habermayer's view, Austria is not in a position
to put direct pressure on China, because Austrian firms have
not filed any recent legal cases or complaints against China
on IPR infringement. Habermayer recalled the case of
Doppelmayr, an Austrian producer of cable cars and elevators,
which currently has over two dozen projects in China.
Habermayer said she has heard rumors of IPR infringement
against Doppelmayr,s business in China, but Doppelmayr has
never filed any formal complaints with the GoA. Habermayer
opined that many Austrian firms that are active in China are
small and uninterested in filing IPR complaints, or their
products are not particularly IPR-sensitive.
Kilner