QATAR LIKELY TO OPPOSE LIFTING CONSULAR

UNCLAS DOHA 000778 SENSITIVE SIPDIS USTR FOR JASON BUNTIN AND BRUCE HIRSH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD USTR QA SUBJECT: QATAR LIKELY TO OPPOSE LIFTING CONSULAR TRANSACTION REQUIREMENTS ON GOODS TRADE REF: SECSTATE 109713 ¶1. (SBU) Econoff met October 22 with Ahmed Ahen, Director of the Trade Organizations Department at the Ministry of Business and Trade to discuss reftel inquiry on consular transaction requirements. Ahen advised that GCC members recently discussed the issue but each member has its own policy. Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia are reportedly open to eliminating the requirements, in part due to the first two countries' FTA commitments. Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait are in favor of keeping consular transaction requirements, according to Ahen. He further advised that the former Minister of Economy and Commerce tried to lift the requirement via a Cabinet decision, but the Qatari MFA wants to maintain such requirements in order to garner additional revenue. ¶2. (SBU) Per Ahen's guidance, Post sent a copy of the WTO notices and the U.S. request for support via diplomatic note to the MFA for inter-agency dissemination and will report any substantive reply septel. LeBaron