SINGAPORE SUPPORTIVE OF EXPORT LICENSING TRANSPARENCY

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 001169 STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTAA STATE PASS USTR FOR EBRZYTWA, JKEMP, DOSLER COMMERCE FOR PAREKH SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN ETRD PREL ECON WTRO SN SUBJECT: SINGAPORE SUPPORTIVE OF EXPORT LICENSING TRANSPARENCY PROPOSAL REF: STATE 121239 ¶1. Embassy officers from Japan, South Korea and Chinese Taipei delivered reftel points December 7 regarding a joint proposal on transparency in export licensing. (Note: Due to Chinese Taipei's participation, Econoff declined to join the demarche.) According to Shinnosuke Kameyama of the Japanese Embassy, Ms. TAN Lay Lin, Deputy Director of the WTO & International Trade Division of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said that Singapore is in agreement with the proposal. However, she believed that the information requirements in the proposal were too burdensome for developing countries. She encouraged flexibility in providing technical assistance and a long phase-in period to assist developing countries to comply. ¶2. Ms. Tan also expressed concern that the proposal was not on the NAMA chair's priority list. Japan Emboff explained that the priority list was over 18 months old and that since the onset of the financial crisis members have been discussing proposals without regard to the list. The group encouraged Singapore trade officials to discuss the proposal with other ASEAN member nations. SHIELDS