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