Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08GUANGZHOU249
2008-05-05 09:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Guangzhou
Cable title:  

103RD CANTON TRADE FAIR OVERALL NO SLACKENING, U.S.

Tags:  ETRD EINV ECON PGOV CH HK TW 
pdf how-to read a cable
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R 050906Z MAY 08
FM AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7086
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
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UNCLAS GUANGZHOU 000249 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINV ECON PGOV CH HK TW
SUBJECT: 103RD CANTON TRADE FAIR OVERALL NO SLACKENING, U.S.
ATTENDANCE DOWN

REF: 2007 GUANGZHOU 1186

(U) This document is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.

UNCLAS GUANGZHOU 000249

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINV ECON PGOV CH HK TW
SUBJECT: 103RD CANTON TRADE FAIR OVERALL NO SLACKENING, U.S.
ATTENDANCE DOWN

REF: 2007 GUANGZHOU 1186

(U) This document is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary: Officially the 103rd Canton Fair was a success
with slight increases in attendance and orders, but local travel
industry contacts complained of lower participation from U.S., EU,
Japanese and Korean buyers. Security was notably tighter with
numerous seminars cancelled. End summary.

Slight Increase Overall, Decline in U.S. Attendance
-------------- --------------


2. (U) Press reports announced that total attendance for the 103rd
China Import Export Commodities Fair (Canton Fair) had increased 1.3
per cent over the previous fair held in October 2007 (102nd
Session). A total of 192,013 visitors visited the fair and placed
orders valued at USD 38.23 billion. This represented a 2.1 per cent
increase in the value of orders placed compared to the October 2007
session and a 5.1 per cent increase over the Spring 2007 (101st)
fair.


3. (U) Continuing a trend seen at the 102nd Session, official
reports indicated that orders for exports to the Middle East and
Southeast Asia increased by 9.6 percent and 15.9 percent,
respectively. Among products, machinery and electric products
industries also continued increasing, accounting for USD 16.82
billion of orders, an increase of 7.7 per cent. These deals
represented 44 percent of all contracts signed.


4. (SBU) However, orders from the United States, EU, Korea and Japan
declined, with attendance from these countries also falling by 7 to
10 per cent. Unofficial accounts corroborated these reports of
lower attendance. A China Southern Airlines executive commented
that attendance was very poor this session with "almost no one"
coming from the United States. Major hotels in Guangzhou also
complained of fewer bookings during this session. By product
category, official reports showed declining orders for consumer
product exports like porcelain, furniture, plastic wares and
textile/apparel goods.

Increased Security
--------------


5. (SBU) Security at the 103rd Session was notably tighter with
Chinese exhibitors required to present cleared criminal background
checks before being issued entrance credentials. Fair organizers
also cracked down on freelance interpreters and other service
personnel, requiring registered buyers and sellers to only use
certified providers. Numerous seminars that are normally held
concurrently at the convention center were all cancelled by the fair
organizers, citing security concerns. South China AmCham
representatives commented that they were able to proceed with a
planned presentation only because they had made separate
arrangements to host the event at a nearby hotel.

GOLDBERG