Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SANSALVADOR1834
2007-09-12 15:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy San Salvador
Cable title:
EL SALVADOR: IMPLEMENTING POCKETING AMENDMENT TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0011 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHSN #1834 2551516 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 121516Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7789 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 001834
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR
COMMERCE FOR MSIEGELMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTEX ETRD ES
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: IMPLEMENTING POCKETING AMENDMENT TO
DR-CAFTA
REF: SECSTATE 123600
UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 001834
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR
COMMERCE FOR MSIEGELMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTEX ETRD ES
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: IMPLEMENTING POCKETING AMENDMENT TO
DR-CAFTA
REF: SECSTATE 123600
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The Government of El Salvador has just
begun the implementation process for the CAFTA-DR pocketing
amendment and must complete a legal review before submitting
it to Congress. While the Government has the political will
to see the amendment implemented, domestic political
considerations suggest that the process will take some time.
END SUMMARY.
2. (U) During a September 11 courtesy call on Ministry of
Economy officials, Econoff raised the status of the CAFTA-DR
pocketing amendment (reftel) with Juan Carlos Fernandez
Quezada, Director of Commercial Policy, Rene Alberto Salazar,
Director of Trade Agreement Administration, and Jorge
Mauricio Guzman Valdez, head of the Ministry's newly created
CAFTA-DR office.
3. (SBU) Guzman described the legislative process as follows:
a) El Salvador receives a certified copy of the amendment
from the Organization of American States (OAS).
b) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducts a
legal/constitutional review of the amendment. Upon
completion, the MFA submits the amendment to the President.
c) The President presents the amendment to the Congress.
d) The Congress debates the amendment and votes.
e) The (approved) amendment goes back to the President for
publication in the National Gazette.
4. (SBU) According Guzman, the Ministry expects to receive
its certified copies within one to two weeks. Fernandez
affirmed that the Government is committed to passing the
pocketing amendment and has the political will to see it
done. While Fernandez did not foresee any "problems," he
warned that CAFTA-DR remained a sensitive topic and the
amendment would likely encounter a "vigorous debate" in the
Congress.
5. (SBU) Fernandez emphasized that progress on El Salvador's
request for "technical corrections" (e.g., Harmonized Tariff
System designations for sleepwear) would help smooth passage.
Guzman noted that the domestic textile industry was both
aware of the pocketing amendment and prepared to support it,
but a visible effort on technical corrections would "make
things easier."
6. (SBU) COMMENT: With the 2009 elections fast approaching,
the amendment will likely face a slow approval process,
especially with FMLN opposition in Congress. The government
should, however, ultimately be able to pass it even without
FMLN support. Post will continue to monitor the process and
report any new developments. END COMMENT.
Butler
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR
COMMERCE FOR MSIEGELMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTEX ETRD ES
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: IMPLEMENTING POCKETING AMENDMENT TO
DR-CAFTA
REF: SECSTATE 123600
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The Government of El Salvador has just
begun the implementation process for the CAFTA-DR pocketing
amendment and must complete a legal review before submitting
it to Congress. While the Government has the political will
to see the amendment implemented, domestic political
considerations suggest that the process will take some time.
END SUMMARY.
2. (U) During a September 11 courtesy call on Ministry of
Economy officials, Econoff raised the status of the CAFTA-DR
pocketing amendment (reftel) with Juan Carlos Fernandez
Quezada, Director of Commercial Policy, Rene Alberto Salazar,
Director of Trade Agreement Administration, and Jorge
Mauricio Guzman Valdez, head of the Ministry's newly created
CAFTA-DR office.
3. (SBU) Guzman described the legislative process as follows:
a) El Salvador receives a certified copy of the amendment
from the Organization of American States (OAS).
b) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducts a
legal/constitutional review of the amendment. Upon
completion, the MFA submits the amendment to the President.
c) The President presents the amendment to the Congress.
d) The Congress debates the amendment and votes.
e) The (approved) amendment goes back to the President for
publication in the National Gazette.
4. (SBU) According Guzman, the Ministry expects to receive
its certified copies within one to two weeks. Fernandez
affirmed that the Government is committed to passing the
pocketing amendment and has the political will to see it
done. While Fernandez did not foresee any "problems," he
warned that CAFTA-DR remained a sensitive topic and the
amendment would likely encounter a "vigorous debate" in the
Congress.
5. (SBU) Fernandez emphasized that progress on El Salvador's
request for "technical corrections" (e.g., Harmonized Tariff
System designations for sleepwear) would help smooth passage.
Guzman noted that the domestic textile industry was both
aware of the pocketing amendment and prepared to support it,
but a visible effort on technical corrections would "make
things easier."
6. (SBU) COMMENT: With the 2009 elections fast approaching,
the amendment will likely face a slow approval process,
especially with FMLN opposition in Congress. The government
should, however, ultimately be able to pass it even without
FMLN support. Post will continue to monitor the process and
report any new developments. END COMMENT.
Butler