R 251643Z MAR 09
FM USMISSION GENEVA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8211
INFO WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE
DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
USDOC WASHDC

UNCLAS GENEVA 000259 
 
 
EEB/TPP/MTAA FOR CRAFT 
PASS USTR FOR SHACKLEFORD 
USDA FOR FAS 
USDOC FOR ITA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD WTRO USTR BL
SUBJECT: WTO COUNCIL FOR GOODS APPROVES AGOA, CBERA AND 
ATPA WAIVERS 
 
¶1.  Summary: On March 24, 2009 the CTG agreed to waive WTO MFN rules 
to allow the U.S. to grant preferential access to the U.S. for AGOA, 
CBERA and ATPA beneficiary countries.  With some reluctance, Bolivia 
joined the consensus on these waivers.  They expressed their hope 
that the U.S. will restore its ATPA preferences. This decision now 
goes to the General Council for final approval. End Summary 
 
¶2. These three waivers have been pending before the CTG for almost 
three years.  The principal difficulty up until now has been 
Paraguay's insistence to be included among the ATPA beneficiary 
countries.  Last year's change of government in Paraguay resulted in 
a decision by Paraguay to withdraw its objections. 
 
¶3.  A new difficulty arose when Bolivia stopping receiving 
preferences last year due to reasons related to the drug enforcement 
requirements of the ATPA.  Although Bolivia initially threatened to 
block the approval of these waivers unless its ATPA status was 
restored, in the end it decided to join the consensus.  At the 
meeting the Bolivian ambassador made a long statement outlining 
Bolivia's drug eradication efforts.  They cited a number of 
statistics from U.N. agencies that they claim support their 
position.  She complained that the U.S. has never provided as much 
help to Bolivia as to other ATPA countries.  Having lost its 
beneficiary status the situation is now much worse.  The current 
U.S. position is contrary to the facts and is hurting Bolivia.  She 
said Bolivia benefited greatly from ATPA and wants it restored.  All 
ATPA countries should be beneficiaries.  She concluded that, 
notwithstanding this fact, in a gesture of friendship to the Obama 
Administration, Bolivia has decided to join the consensus on 
approving the waivers.  She expressed her hope that the current 
administration will correct the errors of the last administration. 
 
¶4.  Bolivia received support from several Members.  Cuba said it 
shares Bolivia's concerns.  Venezuela expressed solidarity.  Ecuador 
expressed its sympathy.  Peru hoped that a way can be found to help 
Bolivia. 
 
¶5.  The U.S. rep responded by expressing its appreciation for 
Bolivia's constructive approach.  He said that the U.S. will be 
conducting a review of Bolivia's eligibility by the end of June. 
The U.S. assured Bolivia that it would conduct a fair and thorough 
review of Bolivia's compliance with the program's eligibility 
criteria.  We welcomed any information in connection with this the 
upcoming review that Bolivia might want to supply. 
 
¶6. On a separate agenda item, the CTG also approved Chairs for 
subsidiary bodies of the CTG as follows: 
 
Market Access -- New Zealand 
 
Agriculture - Uruguay 
 
S/PS - Argentina 
 
TBT - Israel 
 
TRIMs - Romania 
 
Anti-Dumping - Italy 
 
Customs Valuation - Pakistan 
 
Rules of Origin - Brazil 
 
Import Licensing - Tanzania 
 
Safeguards - Mauritius 
 
Subsidies - Lithuania 
 
State Trading - China 
 
ITA - Egypt 
 
¶7.  Turkey also distributed at the meeting a background paper on 
trade in textiles.  Turkey has been trying for the last four years 
to get the WTO to study the issue of textile trade since the 
expiration of quota restraints under the Agreement on Textiles and 
Clothing.  Major exporting countries such as China and India have 
refused to allow any action on this issue.  Turkey continues to 
receive support from textile exporting countries from the Caribbean 
and North Africa. At this meeting, the major exporters maintained 
their position that the WTO should not discuss issues related to 
individual sectors.  The Chair summed up by concluding that there 
was no consensus on how to proceed and said the issue would appear 
on the agenda for the next meeting. 
 
 
ALLGEIR