AUSTRALIA WANTS MORE INFO ON U.S. WTO REMAN

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000392

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE PASS USTR B NORTON, C SMOTHERS; DOC FOR E BRZYTWA;
STATE FOR EEB/A SCHEIBE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD WTRO ECON AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA WANTS MORE INFO ON U.S. WTO REMAN
INITIATIVE

REF: STATE 36987


1. (SBU) Summary: Australia is not at the moment in a
position to agree to cosponsor the US WTO remanufacturing
initiative text, but does not rule it out. The Australians
suggest a dialogue on this issue, preferably in Geneva. End
summary.


2. (SBU) Deputy Econcouns met with Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (DFAT) First Assistant Secretary (Acting)
for Trade Negotiation Tim Yeend on April 16 to seek
Australian cosponsorship of the US WTO remanufacturing
initiative text (reftel). Yeend said that the GOA had not
yet determined how it will position itself on the
remanufacturing initiative. He said there were some

concerns, given Australia's approach domestically to
remanufactured goods. Specifically, he said they need to
take into account domestic requirements for conformity
assessments and product labeling, and how WTO action would
affect it, before being able to take a position on the
remanufacturing initiative.


3. (SBU) Yeend said Australia is anxious to send positive
signals to help move NAMA and the entire Doha process along.
In general, if it is possible to support the remanufacturing
initiative - and other sectoral proposals - Yeend said
Australia is anxious to do so. Yeend said the U.S. demarche
would be a chance for the GOA to revisit the issue and come
to a conclusion. The GOA would like to enter a dialogue on
this topic if the United States is open to it, Yeend said.
He suggested that our missions in Geneva might be best placed
to conduct this.

MCCALLUM