DELIVERY OF LETTER REGARDING NEXT STEPS UNDER THE

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001312 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR EAP/MTS, EEB/BTA USTR FOR B. WEISEL, K. EHLERS AND FALAN YINUG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD OTRA ID SUBJECT: DELIVERY OF LETTER REGARDING NEXT STEPS UNDER THE ASEAN-U.S. TIFA. REF: SECSTATE 81015 ¶1. (SBU) We delivered the letter from AUSTR Barbara Weisel contained reftel to Gusmardi Bustami, Director General International Cooperation, at the Indonesian Ministry of Trade on August 7. Bustami advised that he and his colleagues are continuing to study the proposals made by the U.S. He plans to meet with his ASEAN colleagues in Bangkok on August 12 to discuss further these proposals and ASEAN's own five proposals. Bustami advised that the government of Indonesia would provide USTR with a response to AUSTR Weisel's letter in the next few weeks following the Bangkok discussions. ¶2. (SBU) Bustami noted ASEAN members are currently establishing point persons for the proposals. He said responses to the U.S. proposals from other ASEAN members have not been very positive thus far, but said that may reflect a focus on other immediate priorities. He complained that Indonesia and Malaysia were finding it difficult to drive coordination on intra-ASEAN work, such as development of national single windows. Bustami said he would be very interested in any additional detailed information that USTR could provide, particularly on the U.S. trade facitilation proposal, to help focus the upcoming discussions in Bangkok. He specifically raised the need for additional details regarding coverage of a trade facilitation agreement and institutions which would need to be involved in discussions in addition to Trade and Customs officials. HUME