VZCZCXRO2556
RR RUEHAG RUEHAP RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHGI RUEHHM RUEHLZ RUEHMA RUEHMR
RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHRN
DE RUEHYD #0689/01 1521147
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011147Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7796
INFO RUCNWTO/WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 YAOUNDE 000689 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL ETRD CM
SUBJECT: CAMEROON SEEKS USG SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATE TO WORLD 
CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION (WCO) 
 
 
¶1.  (U)  In a May 22 diplomatic note, the Government of 
Cameroon (GRC) announced the candidacy of 
Mr. Antoine Marie Manga Massina for the post of Director of 
Tariff and Trade Affairs at the Secretariat of the World 
Customs Organization (WCO) and requested USG support for his 
candidacy.  This message conveys full text versions of the 
diplomatic note (para 2), the candidate's CV (para 3), and 
the candidate's action plan (para 4). 
 
¶2. (U) Begin Text of Diplomatic Note: 
 
The Ministry of External Relations of the Republic of 
Cameroon presents its compliments to the Embassy of the 
United States of America in Yaounde; and, 
 
Has the honour to inform the latter that the Government of 
the Republic of Cameroon has decided to present the 
candidature of Mr. Antoine Marie Manga Massina for the post 
of Director of Tariff and Trade Affairs at the Secretariat of 
the World Customs Organization (WCO). 
 
The election for this position is to be held on 30 June 2007 
in Brussels at the 109th/110th Sessions of the WCO's Council. 
 
As current Director General of Cameroon Customs, Mr. Antoine 
Marie Manga Massina has notably performed the duties of 
Special Assistant at the Presidency of the Republic of 
Cameroon and Deputy Director for Valuation at the World 
Customs Organization.  Please, see attached brochure 
presenting the candidate and outlining his plan of action. 
 
Furthermore, Cameroon which is currently a member of the 
General Policy Commission of the WCO, presents this candidate 
whose plan of action is to contribute to the strengthening of 
WCO for a sound global economic development. 
 
The Ministry of External Relations would be very grateful if 
the Embassy of the United States of America could obtain the 
support of his Government for the election of this candidate. 
 
The Ministry of External Relations would like to thank, in 
advance, the Embassy of the United States of America for the 
onward transmission of this request to the United States 
Government; and would like to avail itself of this 
opportunity to renew the assurances of its highest 
consideration./- 
 
Yaounde 
 
End Text of Diplomatic Note 
 
¶3. (U) Begin Text of Cirriculum Vitae: 
 
My curriculum vitae 
 
Name: Antoine Marie Manga Massina 
Date and place of birth: 3 may 1952 in Yaound (Cameroon) 
Marital Status: Married with seven dependent children. 
 
EDUCATION 
     1977: B.Sc. in Economics, University of Yaound 
     1979: Diploma from the National School of 
Administration and Magistracy (Cameroon), Customs Section 
 
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 
     1979-1981:    Customs Inspector at the Main Customs 
Office at the Douala Port 
 
     1981-1985:  - Head of the Customs House at the Yaound 
Airport 
- Lecturer at the National School of Administration and 
Magistracy 
(Customs Section) 
 
     August 1985- September 1990: Sub-Director of 
Legislation and Tariffs at the Cameroon National Customs 
Department. 
 
     Sept 1990- December 1991: First Secretary in charge of 
commercial and customs affairs at the Embassy of Cameroon in 
the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Community. 
Responsibilities: Delegate of Cameroon in all WCO meetings, 
including the HS Committee, the Permanent Technical 
Committee, the Valuation Committee. 
 
     January 1992- July 1999: Deputy Director of Valuation 
at WCO responsible for the promotion and management of the 
WCO Valuation Agreement, the management and implementation of 
the Technical Assistance Programme, the monitoring of 
contributions to the WCO deliberations on origin and tariff 
classification and technical and administrative supervision 
of administrators. 
 
YAOUNDE 00000689  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
     Sept 1999 - February 2000: Permanent Secretary of the 
Cameroon Customs Reform and Modernization Committee. 
 
     February 2000 - May 2000: Technical Adviser to the 
Minister of the Economy and Finance. 
 
     May 2000 - April 2002: National Director of Cameroon,s 
Customs Department. 
 
     April 2002 - October 2003: Inspector at the General 
Inspectorate of the Customs Services of Cameroon. (Ministry 
of Economy and Finance) 
 
     October 2003 - June 2005: Special Assistant at the 
General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, 
Economic and Financial Affairs Division; In this capacity, 
Technical Adviser of the President of the Republic, notably 
on economic, fiscal, customs and world trade issues. 
 
 
     2005 to date: Director-General of Customs 
Responsible notably for the implementation of the Customs 
Reform and Modernization Strategic Plan, the developing of 
cooperation with other customs departments and international 
organizations. 
 
LANGUAGES SPOKEN, WRITTEN AND READ: French, English and 
Spanish 
 
End text of Curriculum Vitae 
 
¶4. (U) Begin text of Action Plan: 
 
If I am elected as Director of Tariff and Trade Affairs, I 
shall apply myself to the task of reinforcing this important 
WCO responsibility. 
 
Many WCO Members are facing difficulties to meet the 
aforementioned challenges due to structural deficiencies. It 
will therefore be necessary for the WCO to make up for these 
insufficiencies by strengthening capacities within the 
framework of the Columbus Programme. 
 
In this respect, the Directorate of Tariff and Trade Affairs 
takes on a strategic importance, especially as its areas of 
competence are at the centre of multilateral trade 
negotiations. This Department would have to contribute to 
negotiations on trade facilitation and help members to 
participate in these negotiations.  The following actions 
should be given importance: 
 
Harmonized System 
 
1.1   Consolidate the Harmonized System as an instrument for 
the uniform interpretation and application of rules of 
classification in the customs tariffs, as well as an 
instrument for the development of world trade statistics. 
1.2   Continue the examination of the monitoring mechanisms 
for the implementation of decisions of the HS Committee; most 
member States do not have the required capacity for tariff 
classification. 
1.3   Pursue the setting up and functioning of an anticipated 
system of tariff decisions. 
1.4   Promote the application of the 2007 version of the HS. 
1.5   Ensure the organization of meetings of the HS Committee 
and Sub-committee. 
 
Customs Value 
 
2.1   Continue the implementation of the WCO Valuation 
Agreement.  This agreement requires additional effort to 
explain it to its Members. 
2.2   Continue to promote and reinforce the uniform 
interpretation and implementation of the Agreement, by 
organizing meetings of the Valuation Technical Committee. 
2.3   Update WCO publications. 
2.4   Promote a framework for dialogue and consultation with 
international organizations and the private sector to 
guarantee overall coherence in the application of rules of 
evaluation. 
 
Rules of origin 
 
3.1   Continue to support the formulation and finalisation of 
non-preferential rules of origin within the framework of WCO 
and prepare their application.  Continue to promote and 
reinforce the uniform interpretation and implementation of 
the Agreement, by organizing meetings of the Origin Technical 
Committee. 
3.2   Contribute to the development of preferential rules of 
origin within the framework of the EU/ACP Economic 
 
YAOUNDE 00000689  003 OF 003 
 
 
Partnership Agreements which will mark a decisive phase in 
the development of customs services in ACP countries. 
3.3   Provide explanations to WCO applicant Members and 
international organizations, explanations and advice relating 
to preferential and non-preferential rules of origin. 
 
Technical assistance 
 
4.1   Assist applicant Members to implement the 2007 version 
of the HS. 
4.2   Continue to organize seminars, training and expert 
missions to reinforce the mastery of the Valuation Agreement. 
4.3   Organize special programmes on important themes such as 
risk analysis, modern techniques of post audit controls to 
ensure better customs valuation control. 
4.4   Continue to carry out explanatory campaigns on 
preferential and non-preferential rules of origin and help 
applicant customs unions and member countries to draw up 
their rules of origin like the one that will result from the 
EU/ACP Economic Partnership Agreements. 
4.5   Complement the action of customs administrations 
concerned by the Economic Partnerships Agreements by defining 
their role and setting up new customs organizational and 
management procedures. 
 
End text of Action Plan 
MARQUARDT