Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07OSLO479
2007-05-04 14:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:
NORWAY URGES U.S. AND EC TO RECONCILE COMPETING
how-toVZCZCXYZ0032 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHNY #0479 1241414 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 041414Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY OSLO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5642 INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1305 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS OSLO 000479
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTA ASCHEIBE
STATE PLS PASS TO USTR FOR BNORTON
COMMERCE FOR DMENDOZA, EBRZYTWA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD WTO NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY URGES U.S. AND EC TO RECONCILE COMPETING
WTO TAFT PROPOSALS
REF: SECSTATE 57995
(SBU) Deputy Pol/Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche
regarding textile, apparel, footwear and travel goods
labeling on May 4 to Evan Kittelsen, Chief WTO Negotiator,
Department for Trade Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kittelsen said that both the EC and U.S. labeling proposals
are good ideas and should be close enough in substance to
reconcile and merge. Kittelsen noted that EC representatives
had demarched him yesterday seeking Norway's co-sponsorship
for the EC's competing labeling proposal and that he told
them the same thing. Norway, said Kittelsen, could live with
either proposal, with some adjustments, but he thought it
best for the U.S. and EC to work together to develop common
language. Therefore, Norway would decline to co-sponsor
either one. Kittelsen said he would seek some additional
clarification of the implications of the U.S. proposal during
discussions in Geneva next week.
WHITNEY