TRADE AGREEMENT COMPLIANCE AND

UNCLAS ZAGREB 001222

SIPDIS

USTR: PASS USTR FOR HIRSH
STATE/EB/TPP/MTA EKOCH
USDOC FOR COMMERCE/TCC/4110
USDA/ITP/FAS/ BERTSCH
USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/EUR/CEENIS/PBRADLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD HR
SUBJECT: TRADE AGREEMENT COMPLIANCE AND
MONITORING - EMBASSY ZAGREB

REF: STATE 152063


1. Embassy Zagreb has established a team at
post as per reftel to monitor trade agreements
and respond to foreign trade barrier complaints.
Post notes that prior to this request to establish
such a team, all relevant agencies were already
collaborating in such activities. As presently
structured, the team consists of representatives
from the ECON section, POL and the Commercial
Service.


2. Post Contact: Senior Commercial Officer
Tom Kelsey. E-mail address is
Thomas.Kelsey@mail.doc.gov, telephone +385 1
661 2090.


3. To date, most activities have centered
around Croatia's noted deficiencies in the IPR
area, specifically the lack of a linkage between
marketing authorization and patent approval for
pharmaceutical products. Post agrees with recent
USG discussions to focus on this specific weakness
which places Croatia on the 301 list year after
year.


4. Emboffs are in frequent contact with the U.S.
business community as well as with their EU
counterparts. Ongoing chapter screening exercises
as Croatia prepares for EU membership also surface
potential problems. AMCHAM Croatia is another
resource by which we learn of complaints. Although
many of the reported problems do not fit within a
strict definition of trade agreements, taken as a
whole they constitute barriers of one kind or
another to expanded trade and investment. We
continue to focus embassy activities and programs
on creating a positive environment for U.S.
businesses and their local partners.
BRADTKE