VZCZCXRO1753
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBK #6153/01 3480912
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140912Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1079
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHDC
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 4546
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0697
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCNEXC/EXPORT CONTROL AND RELATED BORDER SECURITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 006153 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, KCROUCH, ROWEN, EAP/MLS 
DRICHELSOPH, BBLACKSHAW 
CBP/INA FOR RWATT 
DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA TPERRY 
AMEMBASSY HANOI FOR PECKSTROM 
AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR FOR RMOODY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN
SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING 
CABLE - NOVEMBER 2007 
 
REF: BANGKOK 5782 
 
BANGKOK 00006153  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SUMMARY 
 
¶1. (U)  EXBS Advisor completed an introductory visit to 
Vietnam, meeting with officials in Hanoi, Haiphong port and 
Lang Son border crossing.  An Export Control Legal-Regulatory 
Workshop was conducted in Bangkok, Nov. 27-29.  Interest and 
participation were good; several possible follow-on 
activities were identified.  Preparations were begun for 
training courses in early January, 2008. 
 
SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS 
 
¶2.  (U)  On November 3, EXBS Advisor completed an 
introductory visit to Vietnam (reported REFTEL).  Advisor and 
POLOFF met with senior Customs and Border Army officials in 
Hanoi, and visited Haiphong port and Lang Son border crossing 
into China.  U.S. programs will complement assistance being 
provided by other nations. 
 
TRAINING CONDUCTED 
 
¶3.  (U)  From November 27-29, Commonwealth Trading Partners 
conducted an Export Control Legal-Regulatory Workshop in 
Bangkok.  Participants included senior officials involved 
with export controls from Royal Thai Customs, the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, Office of the Council of State, Ministry of 
Commerce, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Public Health, 
Office of Atoms for Peace, Ministry of Defense, the National 
Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, the Thai 
Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Thai Industries. 
The agenda included a broad array of topics, including the 
reasons for and elements of an export control system, UN 
Security Council Resolution 1540, control lists and regimes, 
enforcement, industry outreach, catch-all controls, transit, 
transshipment, reexport, brokering, and designing a 
consolidated export control law. 
 
¶4. (SBU)  Interest and participation were good.  The Ministry 
of Commerce, which holds a large share of the export control 
responsibility, expressed support for a consolidated system 
and felt that involvement by other ministries in the workshop 
would increase support for that position (their delegation 
head interspersed her team among the other ministries' 
tables).  Both Commerce and the industry organizations 
focused on the need to avoid hindering trade.  Subsequent 
discussion of best practices and increased potential for 
foreign direct investment seemed to assuage some of these 
concerns.  Delegates from the Council of State (responsible 
for working with the ministries and legislature to draft 
legislation) made particularly detailed and insightful 
comments.  There was some discussion regarding ministries 
strengthening enforcement through their existing 
administrative powers, and whether Commerce already had 
authority to establish a unified control system.  They also 
acknowledged the importance of Thailand playing its part in 
this global challenge. 
 
¶5. (U)  There was a general feeling that a Thai translation 
of the EU Control List would be useful in promoting a more 
standardized control system.  Because of the rapid pace of 
technological developments, participants felt comprehensive 
commodity identification training would be useful.  More 
advanced training in the U.S. on strategic trade controls 
would likely be a productive follow-up activity for key 
officials.  A complete report will be sent SEPTEL. 
 
EQUIPMENT DELIVERED 
 
¶4.  (U)   None. 
 
 
BANGKOK 00006153  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE 
 
¶5.  (U)  U.S. Customs and Border Protection will conduct an 
International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT) course at 
Laem Chabang port, Thailand during January 7-11, 2008.  CTP, 
Inc. will conduct a Tracker Planning Session and System Admin 
Training in Hanoi, Vietnam during January 14-18, 2008. 
 
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS 
 
¶6.  (U) None. 
BOYCE