EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001435 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, KCROUCH, ROWEN, EAP/MLS DRICHELSOPH, BBLACKSHAW CBP/INA FOR BMCCRAY DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA TPERRY AMEMBASSY HANOI FOR PECKSTROM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR FOR RMOODY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - APRIL 2008 BANGKOK 00001435 001.2 OF 002 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) An Export Control Legal-Regulatory Workshop was conducted in Hanoi, April 8-10. Advisor met with Customs specialists from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and European Commission (EC) to assess potential areas for collaboration or deconfliction. The Thai translation of the European Union (EU) Control Lists was received April 25, and will be used in EXBS training workshops in May and July. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS ¶2. (U) Advisor met with Customs specialists of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Bangkok. This office has regional responsibilities, providing Customs assistance to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. The main effort currently underway is a program designed to strengthen Risk Management procedures, especially for customs clearance, post-clearance audits and prevention of smuggling. The program will develop procedures for central and local profiling, and develop a risk management database. Another current project is assessing possible installation of x-ray inspection systems in Hai Phong and/or Ho Chi Minh City Cat Lai port. Past assistance was provided to Vietnam through a Master Trainer program for customs modernization. ¶3. (SBU) Advisor also met with M. Pierre Faucherand, Customs and Taxation representative at the Delegation of the European Commission. The EU provides Customs assistance through the framework of its Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Thailand. The top two issues for the EU are security and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). The EU has sponsored study visits for Customs officials to the United Kingdom and Germany. It also sponsored a meeting last year of senior ASEAN Customs officials in Brussels. M. Faucherand noted that Customs reform is a difficult challenge, with varied interests and corruption regional challenges. He assessed that more automation and pressure from the trade community would be helpful. The EU uses a system designating Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs, similar to the US's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism - C-TPAT) to expedite trade for trustworthy businesses. He has seen some progress in industry acceptance of greater security measures over the last few years, though there is still much room for improvement. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶4. (U) Technical experts from Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) conducted a Legal-Regulatory Workshop in Hanoi, April 8-10. Twenty-one senior and mid-level officials attended, with representatives from Customs and the Ministries of Defense, Justice, Industry and Trade, Foreign Affairs and Public Security. Participants received Vietnamese and English versions of all presentations, a Vietnamese translation of the EU Control Lists, and model export control laws. More detailed comments will be reported separately. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED ¶5. (U) A CD master copy and 50 hard copies of the Thai translation of the EU Dual-Use and Munitions Control Lists was received on April 25. These materials will be used during the DOE-led Strategic Trade Control Licensing Workshop in May, and the National Control List Workshop in July. IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶6. (U) DOE will lead a Strategic Trade Control Licensing Workshop in Bangkok, May 14-16. A major equipment donation for Vietnamese Customs and Border Army is scheduled for May ¶21. BANGKOK 00001435 002.2 OF 002 SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶7. (U) None. JOHN