Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUWAIT253
2009-03-17 10:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
NOTIFICATION OF GCC CUSTOMS UNION TO THE WTO;
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHKU #0253 0761035 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 171035Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3026 INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1253
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000253
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/TPP/MTAA/MTA
STATE PASS USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD USTR WTO ECON EAGR KU
SUBJECT: NOTIFICATION OF GCC CUSTOMS UNION TO THE WTO;
KUWAIT'S RESPONSE
REF: STATE 19377
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000253
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/TPP/MTAA/MTA
STATE PASS USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD USTR WTO ECON EAGR KU
SUBJECT: NOTIFICATION OF GCC CUSTOMS UNION TO THE WTO;
KUWAIT'S RESPONSE
REF: STATE 19377
1. (SBU) EconCouns and LES Econspecialist met with Abdulaziz
Al-Khaldi, Assistant Under Secretary for Foreign Trade
Affairs to discuss the GCC's notification of its customs
union to the World Trade Organization. Khaldi was
accompanied by Khaled Al-Azemi, Controller for Foreign
Relations and called in Abdullatif Al-Hendal, Controller for
WTO Affairs to discuss the demarche in more detail. Hendal
initially explained that the enabling clause was chosen
because it appeared to be more appropriate to the needs of
developing countries. Both he and Khaldi stressed that they
were not interested in harming U.S. interests and expressed
their desire to solve the problem amicably. Hendal promised
to raise the issues in his meetings with his GCC counterparts
and Khaldi instructed him to have Kuwait's WTO representative
contact USTR attach in Geneva to discuss the matter further.
2. (SBU) Hendal confided that the reason the GCC switched its
notification to the enabling clause was out of a concern that
the data requirements under Article XXIV of the GATT were too
complicated and detailed for several of the GCC members to
fulfill. (Note: In an Arabic sidebar with Khaldi, he
mentioned Harmonized Schedule data as an area of concern.
End Note.)
********************************************* *********
For more reporting from EMBASSY Kuwait, visit:
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it
********************************************* *********
O'DONOHUE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/TPP/MTAA/MTA
STATE PASS USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD USTR WTO ECON EAGR KU
SUBJECT: NOTIFICATION OF GCC CUSTOMS UNION TO THE WTO;
KUWAIT'S RESPONSE
REF: STATE 19377
1. (SBU) EconCouns and LES Econspecialist met with Abdulaziz
Al-Khaldi, Assistant Under Secretary for Foreign Trade
Affairs to discuss the GCC's notification of its customs
union to the World Trade Organization. Khaldi was
accompanied by Khaled Al-Azemi, Controller for Foreign
Relations and called in Abdullatif Al-Hendal, Controller for
WTO Affairs to discuss the demarche in more detail. Hendal
initially explained that the enabling clause was chosen
because it appeared to be more appropriate to the needs of
developing countries. Both he and Khaldi stressed that they
were not interested in harming U.S. interests and expressed
their desire to solve the problem amicably. Hendal promised
to raise the issues in his meetings with his GCC counterparts
and Khaldi instructed him to have Kuwait's WTO representative
contact USTR attach in Geneva to discuss the matter further.
2. (SBU) Hendal confided that the reason the GCC switched its
notification to the enabling clause was out of a concern that
the data requirements under Article XXIV of the GATT were too
complicated and detailed for several of the GCC members to
fulfill. (Note: In an Arabic sidebar with Khaldi, he
mentioned Harmonized Schedule data as an area of concern.
End Note.)
********************************************* *********
For more reporting from EMBASSY Kuwait, visit:
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it
********************************************* *********
O'DONOHUE