NEW GOP POINT MAN ON PTPA GOES TO WASHINGTON

UNCLAS LIMA 000276 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR E, EB, EB/TPP, WHA/AND PASS TO USTR FOR VERONEAU, EISSENSTAT, HARMON COMMERCE FOR MCAMERON TREASURY FOR JEWELL, SHWARZMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR PGOV USTR PE SUBJECT: NEW GOP POINT MAN ON PTPA GOES TO WASHINGTON REF: LIMA 0129 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: David Lemor, the GOP's de facto point man on the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) told us January 19 that the GOP would now take a more internally coordinated and energetic approach in pushing for U.S. Congressional approval of the agreement. He travels to Washington February 1 to take up his new duties as the Trade Ministry's representative at the Peruvian Embassy, and told us he had President Garcia's support. He said he expected Hernando de Soto, President Garcia's "special envoy" named in August 2006, to now focus on the domestic implementation of the PTPA. The GOP has just retained veteran Washington attorney Thomas Boggs to help with the Congressional effort, and Lemor will also bring up additional support staff for the effort from Lima. Charge urged him to work closely with Washington agencies and to coordinate closely on key issues such as labor. END SUMMARY. TRADE MINISTRY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Lemor (bio reported reftel) told Charge that while Peru's Ambassador to the U.S. Felipe Ortiz de Zevallos would be heading the mission, he himself would be coordinating the GOP's day to day campaign in Washington. He confirmed that lobbying firm Patton Boggs had been hired by the GOP at some considerable expense, and that veteran lobbyist Thomas Boggs would be personally involved. Lemor said he would be bringing three outside academics to assist him in Washington. ¶3. (SBU) Lemor said that Presidential envoy Hernando de Soto, who had openly complained about how frustrating the task of lobbying for the PTPA had been, would focus his efforts on domestic implementation of the PTPA. Lemor opined that de Soto had had some difficulty working effectively with the various ministries, especially the trade ministry. He also said that the locus of control on this current effort would be in the Trade Ministry. ¶4. (SBU) Lemor said that President Garcia told him he would be willing to make a call to Washington if necessary. Lemor said he thought he could count on the pro-FTA ministers in the cabinet to support him with the President if necessary. That list includes Transport and Telecoms Minister Veronica Zavala, Production Minister Rafael Rey and Housing Minister Hernan Garrido-Lecca. COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Lemor's presence in Washington clearly puts the Trade Ministry in the driver's seat for the GOP's efforts on the PTPA. Lemor said he would likely spend at least six months in Washington, to be extended to a year. Charge urged Lemor to be in touch with the broad range of Washington agencies as he made his rounds in Washington, such as Treasury, Commerce and State, in addition to USTR. She also told Lemor that it was important to keep his eye on the kinds of political developments that could arise in Peru that would bring the PTPA negative publicity on the Hill. POWERS