(S) PSI: FURTHER ON SHIPMENT OF JAPANESE ORIGIN

S E C R E T TOKYO 001780 E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/27/2018 TAGS: ETRD MNUC PARM PREL JA SUBJECT: (S) PSI: FURTHER ON SHIPMENT OF JAPANESE ORIGIN MATERIALS WITH MISSILE APPLICATIONS TO SYRIA REF: A. STATE 68507 ¶B. TOKYO 1770 Classified By: EMIN Robert F. Cekuta for reasons 1.4 b, d. ¶1. (S) Subsequent to the transmittal of ref B, METI Export Controls Deputy Director Takao Shishikura provided EconOff with the following nonpaper in English June 27. The METI nonpaper is marked "Confidential." Shishikura also asked that USG provide further information regarding Ehsan Alsaadi. ¶2. (S) Begin text of GOJ English nonpaper: With respect to your nonpaper regarding shipment of TDI to Syria, we appreciate your information and would like to share with you the initial information we received from the company and the measures we have taken in this case as following. ¶1. We interviewed Mitsui and Co. Ltd. and found that the end user of the above mentioned shipment is "Ehsan Alsaadi," with annual exports of approximately 200 tons. ¶2. With respect to "Ehsan Alsaadi," Mitsui and Co. Ltd. did not have any information of concern in the course of end use and end user screening. (NOTE: METI does not have any particular information of concern either.) ¶3. According to the Mitsui and Co. Ltd. with regard to the shipment supposed to arrive in Syria on June 30th, the right of ownership has already been transferred to "Ehsan Alsaadi;" thus it is difficult to recall the shipment. ¶4. We have asked Mitsui and Co. Ltd. to withhold the currently pending shipments of TDI to "Ehsan Alsaadi." Regarding the case of ITOCHU Chemical Frontier, we are still waiting for a reply from the company, and we will share the results with you as soon as possible. We will continuously cooperate in this matter and would welcome any follow-up information regarding this case, especially if there is any information regarding "Ehsan Alsaadi." End text of GOJ nonpaper ¶3. (S) In providing the nonpaper to Emboff Shishikura stressed Mitsui has agreed at METI's request to suspend pending TDI shipments to Ehsan Alsaadi only temporarily. Shishikura noted METI would need further information regarding the problems with the end user in order for Mitsui to continue suspending the pending shipments. He requested the USG provide additional information within a week. SCHIEFFER NNNN End Cable Text