Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO647
2009-03-23 08:38:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
DEMARCHE ON LIABILITY AND REDRESS UNDER THE
how-toVZCZCXRO6869 PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #0647 0820838 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 230838Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1709 INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 3114 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 5454 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 6906 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 3654
UNCLAS TOKYO 000647
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON LIABILITY AND REDRESS UNDER THE
CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY
REF: SECSTATE 11910
UNCLAS TOKYO 000647
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON LIABILITY AND REDRESS UNDER THE
CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY
REF: SECSTATE 11910
1. Per reftel, Post approached Nobuyuki Kikuchi, Deputy
Director, Global Environment Division, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to discuss Liability and Redress under the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety. According to Kikuchi, Japan remains
committed to seeing practical, compromise solutions to issues
such as the definition of damage and standards of liability.
However, Kikuchi feels the positions of parties to the
Protocol are too wide for significant agreements to be
reached at the Mexico meeting. Kikuchi will travel to Mexico
as part of an eight member GOJ team including MOFA, MAFF,
METI, and the Ministry of Education (essentially the same as
the Japanese delegation to the Bonn MOP).
2. Kikuchi happens to be traveling to Washington, DC on
Thursday February 19 and expressed a willingness to discuss
L&D issues with USDA and State representatives on the
afternoon or evening of Friday February 20. Kikuchi very
much appreciated similar meetings last November. To arrange
such a meeting, Kikuchi suggested coordinating with the
Japanese Embassy in Washington or contacting him via his
personal email kikuchinobuyuki@hotmail.com or on his cell
phone (011-81-80-3488-1914). However, Kikuchi already has
some side meetings scheduled with USG representatives in
Mexico.
3. Comment. Japan is on a per capita basis the world's
largest importer of biotech crops and is highly dependent on
the imported grains that would be covered by any agreement on
Liability and Redress. For this reason, Japan, and Kikuchi
in particular, continues to push for practical outcomes that
do not disrupt trade. In 2008, Japan's support of a
non-binding approach to Liability and Redress in the
Biosafety Protocol (which is part of the CDB) was critical to
the negotiation and demonstrated positive leadership in an
organization where the United States is not represented.
However, in October 2010, Japan will host the 10th Conference
of the Parties (COP-10) to the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD). As host of the 2010 conference, Japan can
be expected to be more reserved in the policy positions it
takes. The run up to the meeting provides numerous
opportunities for jointly sponsored workshops with CBD
members, such as was done in 2008 in Tokyo under the auspices
of APEC. Such activities could also give cover to Japan to
continue to push for non-trade distorting outcomes. End
comment.
ZUMWALT
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD TBIO KPAO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON LIABILITY AND REDRESS UNDER THE
CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY
REF: SECSTATE 11910
1. Per reftel, Post approached Nobuyuki Kikuchi, Deputy
Director, Global Environment Division, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to discuss Liability and Redress under the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety. According to Kikuchi, Japan remains
committed to seeing practical, compromise solutions to issues
such as the definition of damage and standards of liability.
However, Kikuchi feels the positions of parties to the
Protocol are too wide for significant agreements to be
reached at the Mexico meeting. Kikuchi will travel to Mexico
as part of an eight member GOJ team including MOFA, MAFF,
METI, and the Ministry of Education (essentially the same as
the Japanese delegation to the Bonn MOP).
2. Kikuchi happens to be traveling to Washington, DC on
Thursday February 19 and expressed a willingness to discuss
L&D issues with USDA and State representatives on the
afternoon or evening of Friday February 20. Kikuchi very
much appreciated similar meetings last November. To arrange
such a meeting, Kikuchi suggested coordinating with the
Japanese Embassy in Washington or contacting him via his
personal email kikuchinobuyuki@hotmail.com or on his cell
phone (011-81-80-3488-1914). However, Kikuchi already has
some side meetings scheduled with USG representatives in
Mexico.
3. Comment. Japan is on a per capita basis the world's
largest importer of biotech crops and is highly dependent on
the imported grains that would be covered by any agreement on
Liability and Redress. For this reason, Japan, and Kikuchi
in particular, continues to push for practical outcomes that
do not disrupt trade. In 2008, Japan's support of a
non-binding approach to Liability and Redress in the
Biosafety Protocol (which is part of the CDB) was critical to
the negotiation and demonstrated positive leadership in an
organization where the United States is not represented.
However, in October 2010, Japan will host the 10th Conference
of the Parties (COP-10) to the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD). As host of the 2010 conference, Japan can
be expected to be more reserved in the policy positions it
takes. The run up to the meeting provides numerous
opportunities for jointly sponsored workshops with CBD
members, such as was done in 2008 in Tokyo under the auspices
of APEC. Such activities could also give cover to Japan to
continue to push for non-trade distorting outcomes. End
comment.
ZUMWALT