VZCZCXYZ0008
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNY #0348/01 0810901
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220901Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3667
INFO RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 2793
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 2028
RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK 0657
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI 7767
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC

UNCLAS OSLO 000348 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NB DALLAND; EB/IPE FOR CLACROSSE 
DOC FOR 4212 MAC/EUR/OEURA 
STATE PLS PASS TO USTR FOR JASON BUNTIN AND JENNIFER CHOE- 
GROVES 
COMMERCE PLEASE PASS TO USPTO FOR JOELLEN URBAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD KIPR MARR MASS EFIS PREL NO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES CONCERNS ON IPR, JOINT STRIKE 
FIGHTER IN INITIAL CALL ON TRADE MINISTER 
 
REFS:  A) OSLO 207  B) STATE 14937 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  In his initial call on Norwegian 
Trade and Industry Minister Odd Eriksen on March 17, the 
Ambassador raised concerns about weak "process" patent 
protections for pharmaceuticals and urged that Norwegian 
industry aggressively seek Joint Strike Fighter program 
contracts.  Eriksen criticized U.S. 
antidumping/countervailing duties on Norwegian salmon 
and, on JSF, stressed the importance of granting more 
contracts to Norwegian firms, but otherwise expressed 
satisfaction with bilateral trade relations.  End 
summary. 
 
 
Weak Pharma Patents Threaten U.S. Firms, Norwegian Jobs 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) On pharmaceutical patents, the Ambassador told 
the Minister he had now met with industry representatives 
twice, including the day before, about the patent problem 
(see ref A).  The Ambassador noted that U.S. 
pharmaceutical firms faced severe losses in revenue if 
generic competitors to their patented drugs were allowed 
into the local market.  Other European countries, e.g. 
Finland, which had like Norway formerly granted only weak 
"process" patent protection to drugs, had already taken 
remedial action.  Norway should not be out of step with 
the rest of Europe and the world on this issue.  The 
Ambassador stressed that high-paying, high-skill jobs for 
Norwegians were at stake.  It was also important for 
Norway to maintain a level playing field for foreign 
investors and companies.  The Ambassador requested 
Eriksen to take a careful look at the issue and support 
amending Norway's health regulations to resolve the 
problem. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Eriksen said he was not familiar with the issue 
(though the Embassy informed his staff in advance that 
the Ambassador would raise it).  Ministry Director 
General Jan Farberg, also in attendance, stepped in to 
say he knew the issue, that the Health Ministry was 
currently looking into it, and that an inter-ministerial 
meeting would convene shortly to discuss it.  Farberg 
downplayed the role of the Trade Ministry, however, 
passing the buck to the Health Ministry.  He did not know 
what the Health Ministry's position was; the Trade 
Ministry was adopting a wait-and-see attitude until the 
Health Ministry took a position.  The Ambassador said he 
understood that the Health Ministry had the lead role, 
but that this was not just a health issue, but also an 
important trade issue that required the Trade Ministry's 
attention. 
 
JSF:  Norway Needs to Get in the Game 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Eriksen cited the Joint Strike Fighter program 
as an "exception" to the otherwise healthy bilateral 
trade relationship, meaning that Norwegian industry was 
not getting enough contracts.  The Ambassador countered 
that Norwegian industry, specifically Kongsberg Aerospace 
and Defense, needed to be more aggressive in competing 
for JSF program contracts.  In fact, Kongsberg had turned 
down contracts, including a multi-million dollar 
composites deal.  Norway had to break a "Catch-22" circle 
-- industry would not invest much in pursuing JSF 
contracts until the government committed to the program, 
but the government would not commit to the program until 
industry secured more contracts.  If developing Norway's 
defense industry were the government's goal, it could 
best meet it by participating in the world's largest, 
most technologically advanced fighter plane program. 
 
Norwegian Salmon Exports Threatened on Several Fronts 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Eriksen's lead trade complaint was the USG's 
refusal to rescind antidumping/countervailing duties 
first imposed on Norwegian salmon 15 years ago.  Eriksen 
noted that Norwegian salmon exports were under assault on 
 
several fronts -- the U.S. duties, the EU's imposition of 
antidumping measures, and Russia's recent ban on fresh 
salmon imports on health grounds. 
 
Comment: Eriksen Not Expected to be Effective 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Some media pundits and opposition politicians 
have labeled Eriksen one of the least influential 
ministers in the center-left government.  While Post will 
continue to raise trade and commercial concerns with the 
Trade Ministry, we have our doubts that the ministry will 
be very effective in addressing them.  End comment. 
 
WHITNEY