WTO LABELING - THAILAND WILL CO-SPONSOR

UNCLAS BANGKOK 002543 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/TPP/MTA/MST ASCHEIBE STATE PASS USTR FOR BNORTON USDOC FOR DMENDOZA, EBRZYTWA E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD WTO TH SUBJECT: WTO LABELING - THAILAND WILL CO-SPONSOR REF: A) STATE 57995; B) BANGKOK 1078 ¶1. On May 2, Econoff met with Ms. Pimchanok Vongkhorporn, the new Director of the Bureau of Multilateral Trade Negotiations and delivered talking points per reftel A. Since our previous demarche on this topic (see reftel B),the Bureau had convened meetings with the Ministry of Industry and private sector groups to discuss the proposal. As Thailand is a significant exporter of apparel and footwear, there was broad support for the U.S. text. Pimchanok said the RTG was prepared to co-sponsor the U.S. text and had already relayed that message to their mission in Geneva. ¶2. Pimchanok raised the question of enforcement and whether the new rules would be binding on all WTO members or would be a plurilateral agreement. Econoff promised to pass along the question to Department and Geneva. BOYCE