DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS

UNCLAS BEIJING 000672 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTA CAROL HENNINGER, EAP/CM STATE PASS TO USTR USTR FOR TODD NISSEN/STRATFORD GENEVA PASS TO USTR USDOC FOR 4420/ITA/MAC TREASURY FOR OASIA/ISA - DOHNER AND HAARSAGER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD WTRO CH SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON WTO SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS REF: STATE 18373 ¶1. (SBU) Trade Affairs MinCons delivered reftel demarche points and letter regarding WTO services negotiations to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM),Department of WTO Affairs Director General Zhang Xiangchen on February 25. Per separate instructions from USTR, MC Trade Affairs also previewed telephone call planned by Ambassador Schwab to MOFCOM Minister Chen DeMing on this subject. ¶2. (SBU) DG Zhang thanked the Embassy for the letter and promised to have it translated and promptly delivered to Minister Chen and to report to him on the substance of the demarche and the upcoming call by Ambassador Schwab. He said he would coordinate so that Minister Chen is available for the call. ¶3. (SBU) DG Zhang also said that China would send a delegation to Geneva in March, including for services meetings , and believes that services should be an integral part of the undertaking of the Doha Round negotiations. He noted that China has "offensive" interests as well in services. Randt