TAIWAN, IRAN, NORTH KOREA AND UNSCRS 1747 AND 1737

S E C R E T TAIPEI 000822 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/TC, ISN/CB AND ISN/MTR E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2027 TAGS: ETTC KNNP PARM TW IR NK SUBJECT: TAIWAN, IRAN, NORTH KOREA AND UNSCRS 1747 AND 1737 REF: A. TAIPEI 705 ¶B. TAIPEI 736 ¶C. TAIPEI 734 Classified By: AIT Econ Chief Daniel K. Moore, 1.4 B/C ¶1. (C) Taiwan agencies have agreed to AIT suggestions to cancel a trade mission to the Iranian cities of Tehran and Esfahan planned for April 24 to May 3, 2007. AIT confronted Taiwan officials on April 10 with the irony of reports that the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) was organizing a trade mission to the Iran at the same time the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) was preparing a report on Taiwan trade sanctions against Iran in response to UNSCRs 1737 and 1747. BOFT reported to AIT on April 12 that it had persuaded TAITRA to cancel the trade mission even though 'most' of the participants dealt only in daily-use goods, textiles, and novelty items. Taiwan's exports to Iran grew 46% in 2006 to US$511 million. After AIT met with Taiwan Counterterrorism Office (CTO) Chief Coordinator Kuo Lin-wu on March 27(ref A),Kuo instructed BOFT to prepare reports on Taiwan's compliance with UNSCRs 1737 and 1747. BOFT, in turn, sent requests to relevant agencies for feedback by April 15. ¶2. (S) BOFT also informed AIT that it has confirmed that Sinatek was acting on behalf of Ching Hwee when it exported horizontal milling machines to North Korea (ref B). BOFT will delay its administrative penalties against these companies until the Ministry of Justice Investigative Bureau finishes its investigation. YOUNG