Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AMMAN2459
2009-11-12 12:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
Proposed Agenda for the U.S. Jordan FTA Joint Committee
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHAM #2459 3161245 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 121245Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6241 INFO RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 4179 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1926 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 5697 RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
UNCLAS AMMAN 002459
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ELA AND EEB
STATE PASS TO USTR (SFRANCESKI) AND USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECIN ECON ELAB EFIN JO
SUBJECT: Proposed Agenda for the U.S. Jordan FTA Joint Committee
Meeting, December 15 to 16
UNCLAS AMMAN 002459
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ELA AND EEB
STATE PASS TO USTR (SFRANCESKI) AND USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECIN ECON ELAB EFIN JO
SUBJECT: Proposed Agenda for the U.S. Jordan FTA Joint Committee
Meeting, December 15 to 16
1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4.
2. (U) Secretary General of Jordan's Ministry of Industry and Trade
(MOIT) Montasser Oklah reconfirmed to EconCouns on November 10 that
Jordan is prepared to host the December 15-16 U.S.-Jordan Free Trade
Agreement Joint Committee (JC) meeting. He reviewed possible agenda
items and requested the U.S. identify delegation members and submit
comment on the proposed schedule.
3. (SBU) The draft agenda for the upcoming JC submitted by the
MOIT, which includes informal post and USTR input, follows:
A. World Financial Crisis:
1) Economic developments in each country
2) Government responses to the crisis
3) Fields of cooperation
B. WTO-related issues:
1) Results of the WTO Ministerial Conference
2) Update on the Doha Development Agenda
3) Update on Jordan's revised offer to join the Government
Procurement Agreement
C. Regional and Multilateral Issues:
1) Regional cumulation
2) Qualifying Industrial Zones
D. Bilateral Trade Issues:
1) Bilateral trade developments with the FTA entering into full
force in 2010
2) Investment promotion and twinning project between the Jordan
Investment Board and its counterparts in the U.S.
E. Bilateral Trade-related Issues:
1) Labor
-- a. Labor cooperation mechanism signing
-- b. Updated on labor conditions in the QIZs
-- c. Update on Labor Law amendments
2) Agriculture
-- a. Accreditation of Jordanian agricultural Exports
-- b. Cooperation and technical assistance Programs
3) Intellectual Property Rights
-- a. 301 review
-- b. Data protection
4) Customs
-- a. Cooperation and technical assistance
-- b. Petra Engineering case
5) Environment, Science and Technology
6) E1/E2 Treaty Trader/Investor Visas
7) Standards and Metrology cooperation and technical assistance
8) TRIDE (Trilateral Industrial Development) funding 2009-2010
budget
9) Other issues
-- a. Jones NY Belts case
-- b. Technical assistance programs
4. (SBU) Action request: Post requests Department, USTR, and other
agency stakeholder feedback, if any, on the above draft agenda for
the JC by November 17. Post also requests those participating in
the JC identify the head of delegation and other participants by
November 25. Post point-of-contact for the JC is EconOff Ali
Lejlic, e-mail: LejlicAE@state.gov.
Visit Amman's Classified Website at
http://diplopedia.state.sgov.gov/index?title= Embassy_
Amman
BEECROFT
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ELA AND EEB
STATE PASS TO USTR (SFRANCESKI) AND USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECIN ECON ELAB EFIN JO
SUBJECT: Proposed Agenda for the U.S. Jordan FTA Joint Committee
Meeting, December 15 to 16
1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4.
2. (U) Secretary General of Jordan's Ministry of Industry and Trade
(MOIT) Montasser Oklah reconfirmed to EconCouns on November 10 that
Jordan is prepared to host the December 15-16 U.S.-Jordan Free Trade
Agreement Joint Committee (JC) meeting. He reviewed possible agenda
items and requested the U.S. identify delegation members and submit
comment on the proposed schedule.
3. (SBU) The draft agenda for the upcoming JC submitted by the
MOIT, which includes informal post and USTR input, follows:
A. World Financial Crisis:
1) Economic developments in each country
2) Government responses to the crisis
3) Fields of cooperation
B. WTO-related issues:
1) Results of the WTO Ministerial Conference
2) Update on the Doha Development Agenda
3) Update on Jordan's revised offer to join the Government
Procurement Agreement
C. Regional and Multilateral Issues:
1) Regional cumulation
2) Qualifying Industrial Zones
D. Bilateral Trade Issues:
1) Bilateral trade developments with the FTA entering into full
force in 2010
2) Investment promotion and twinning project between the Jordan
Investment Board and its counterparts in the U.S.
E. Bilateral Trade-related Issues:
1) Labor
-- a. Labor cooperation mechanism signing
-- b. Updated on labor conditions in the QIZs
-- c. Update on Labor Law amendments
2) Agriculture
-- a. Accreditation of Jordanian agricultural Exports
-- b. Cooperation and technical assistance Programs
3) Intellectual Property Rights
-- a. 301 review
-- b. Data protection
4) Customs
-- a. Cooperation and technical assistance
-- b. Petra Engineering case
5) Environment, Science and Technology
6) E1/E2 Treaty Trader/Investor Visas
7) Standards and Metrology cooperation and technical assistance
8) TRIDE (Trilateral Industrial Development) funding 2009-2010
budget
9) Other issues
-- a. Jones NY Belts case
-- b. Technical assistance programs
4. (SBU) Action request: Post requests Department, USTR, and other
agency stakeholder feedback, if any, on the above draft agenda for
the JC by November 17. Post also requests those participating in
the JC identify the head of delegation and other participants by
November 25. Post point-of-contact for the JC is EconOff Ali
Lejlic, e-mail: LejlicAE@state.gov.
Visit Amman's Classified Website at
http://diplopedia.state.sgov.gov/index?title= Embassy_
Amman
BEECROFT