THAILAND - DEMARCHE ON WTO TAFT PROPOSAL

UNCLAS BANGKOK 000660 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTA/MST ASCHEIBE STATE PASS USTR FOR BNORTON, JWEISS USDOC FOR EBRZYTWA E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD WTRO TH SUBJECT: THAILAND - DEMARCHE ON WTO TAFT PROPOSAL REF: STATE 12905 Econ Counselor and Bangkok-based EU representative met jointly with Mr. Winichai Chaemchaeng, Deputy Director General of Thailand's Department of Trade Negotiations, and delivered reftel points on the U.S./EC WTO proposal on Textiles, Apparel, Footwear and Travel Goods (TAFT). Winichai was generally positive toward the proposal to co-sponsor. He noted that the U.S. had raised an earlier TAFT proposal approximately two years ago. At that time, the RTG had consulted with stakeholders and found no objections, and while not aware of any new concerns of Thai stakeholders he would convene another meeting to review the proposal again with them. Winichai said that a decision should be made in one to two weeks and that the Ministry would send appropriate instructions to the RTG delegation in Geneva. JOHN