SINGAPORE READY TO DISCUSS ASEAN TIFA PROPOSALS AT SEOM

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 000659 STATE PASS USTR FOR FYINUG SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD OTRA SN SUBJECT: SINGAPORE READY TO DISCUSS ASEAN TIFA PROPOSALS AT SEOM REF: STATE 65718 ¶1. Singaporean trade officials are looking forward to discussing U.S. proposals for the ASEAN-TIFA work plan, but have no proposals of their own to offer. Ms. Sulaimah Mahmood, Director of the ASEAN Division of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, told Econoff July 9 that she would advise USTR to broach their proposals on a regional basis rather than as a set of separate bilateral agreements in order to deflect unnecessary attention to Burma, which would inevitably be excluded. ¶2. Mahmood was generally positive about the work plan proposals and had comments only on select topics. On Logistics Services Protocol, Mahmood said that Singapore was very interested but had sensed a lukewarm response from other member countries. On Digital Economy Protocol, Singapore was interested but would need to see more detail before discussing in depth. ¶3. Mahmood said that Trade Finance was not as crucial an issue as it had been six months ago, and was not enthusiastic about pursuing a work plan proposal on the topic. She noted that both APEC and ASEAN had recently completed surveys on the topic tow which only four countries had responded, but of those four Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam said trade finance was not a problem. Only Thailand indicated it was a moderate problem. ¶4. On the Government and Business Dialogue proposal, Mahmood said timing was a challenge for the dialogue and suggested it could be held on the fringes of the APEC CEO Summit in October. She also questioned which industry sectors and business groups would be best to invite. SHIELDS