THAIS PREFER PROJECT APPROACH ON ENVIRO GOODS

UNCLAS BANGKOK 003093 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS USTR FOR JPRESCOTT GENEVA FOR RSHUB E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD WTO SENV TH SUBJECT: THAIS PREFER PROJECT APPROACH ON ENVIRO GOODS REF: STATE 72741 ¶1. On June 5, Econoff spoke with Mr. Thitisesh Seshtabutra, Senior Trade Officer at the Department of Trade Negotiations and relayed talking points as requested in reftel. Thitiseth said the RTG position was not yet final, but that his office has recommended to their Director General that Thailand support a project approach rather than a list approach to reducing tariffs on environmental goods. Under a project approach the RTG would drop tariffs on environmental goods only in conjunction with an application for an environmental project that could verify the goods would be used for environmental protection. Thitisesh said his department had concerns that many items on the latest proposed list had no obvious environmental relevance, and that most were multi-use and could be used for projects other than environmental ones. However, he conceded that if the consensus in the WTO leans toward a list approach Thailand may be forced to alter its position. Nevertheless, the RTG would still raise questions on inclusion of many items on the proposed list. BOYCE