Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BRUSSELS511
2009-04-06 13:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

BELGIUM: RESPONSE TO LACEY ACT DEMARCHE

Tags:  SENV EAID EAGR ETRD EINV BTIO BE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBS #0511 0961348
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061348Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8808
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000511 

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS USTR
USDOC FOR 4212/ITA/MAC/EUR/OECA/WNE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAID EAGR ETRD EINV BTIO BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: RESPONSE TO LACEY ACT DEMARCHE

REF: 2008 STATE 126654

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000511

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS USTR
USDOC FOR 4212/ITA/MAC/EUR/OECA/WNE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAID EAGR ETRD EINV BTIO BE
SUBJECT: BELGIUM: RESPONSE TO LACEY ACT DEMARCHE

REF: 2008 STATE 126654


1. Post delivered the Lacey Act demarche on December 11,

2008. On March 26, 2009, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA) informed the Embassy via email that the
Government of Belgium appreciated the opportunity to comment
on the implementation of the revised Lacey Act provisions,
and welcomed the initiative of the US Administration to
combat illegal logging. The MFA's note also noted GOB
concerns that the first version of the revised Lacey Act
could harm trade unnecessarily, however, and that the scope
of the declaration requirements was extremely wide, as it
could potentially cover 80 of the 97 chapters of the
Harmonised Tariff Schedule. The revised version is clearly
an improvement, the MFA stated. Belgium is still analyzing
the impact of some provisions, the Belgian authorities will
study very carefully any further change proposed to the
legislation in the future, the MFA said.


2. Post will report any additional comments from Belgian
authorities.
BUSH
.