USTR TRANSPARENCY AGREEMENT PROPOSAL CONVEYED, MORE

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000388 SIPDIS SIPDIS GENEVA FOR USTR STATE PASS USTR, USTDA, OPIC, AND EXIMBANK STATE FOR EAP/CM AND EB/TPP USAID FOR ANE FOR D. WINSTON MANILA AND LONDON FOR ADB, EBRD USEDS TREASURY FOR USEDS TO IMF, WORLD BANK USDA FAS FOR N. SAKLAH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD PREL EFIN PGOV MG SUBJECT: USTR TRANSPARENCY AGREEMENT PROPOSAL CONVEYED, MORE Ref: Wineland-Herman Email 06/27/07 ¶1. On June 28, DCM passed to Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) Trade Director a copy of AUSTR Stratford's letter to Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) Vice Minister Sodhbaatar (ref) proposing preliminary consideration of a bilateral agreement on transparency, including as an example the draft U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement section on transparency. DCM stressed this was the "concrete proposal" Stratford had promised to pursue during the March Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) discussions. Enkhbold said MOIT would carefully consider the proposal and respond, probably by the end of July. GOM Grateful for USG support on Cashmere; MOIT Minister to Visit Geneva -------------- ¶2. Enkhbold noted MOIT Minister Davaadorj planned to pay his initial visit to Geneva in early July, provided the cabinet approved his travels. Davaadorj planned to use his visit to meet with senior WTO officials and also to meet with representatives of key missions to the WTO. Enkhbold expressed gratitude for the USG's support for Mongolia's request regarding cashmere, adding that the issue is due for consideration on July 9. He said China had eventually come around, but had asked several questions as well, though China's position was not contingent upon the answers to those informational questions. Interim, Informal TIFA Review Suggested -------------- ¶3. DCM also used the occasion to update Enkhbold on USG's post-TIFA actions and asked that the GOM do the same. The DCM suggested the two sides do an interim, informal TIFA progress review in August using a DVC to enable Washington agencies to participate. Enkhbold thought this a good idea as well and asked for further coordination closer to the review date. MINTON