R 101456Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5897

UNCLAS BERN 000249 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD SZ
SUBJECT: A/USTR WILSON'S MEETINGS WITH SWISS OFFICIALS 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Assistant United States Trade Representative for 
Europe and the Middle East Chris Wilson and Swiss Secretariat for 
Economic Affairs (SECO) Head of Bilateral Economic Relations 
Ambassador Monika Ruehl co-chaired a Trade and Investment 
Cooperation Forum ("Forum") meeting on June 2. 
The Head of the Swiss Environment Ministry International Affairs 
Office and Ruehl strongly supported A/USTR Wilson's proposal to 
expand the Forum beyond technical problem-solving to broader 
strategic issues such as the intersection between environment or 
labor and trade.  Swiss Chief Negotiator at the WTO Marie-Gabrielle 
Ineichen-Fleisch highlighted the common US and Swiss positions in 
the Doha Round and proposed a bilateral working group meeting in 
September to brainstorm on moving Doha forward. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) During an informal meeting on June 2 with A/USTR Wilson, 
Swiss Parliamentarians reflected their interests in the new US 
administration's trade policies' impact on trade negotiations as 
well as concerns about pressure for increased protectionism in the 
US.  A/USTR Wilson also held separate meetings with SECO State 
Secretary Jean-Daniel Gerber and local business representatives to 
discuss the Forum, WTO and the Doha Round, and the new US 
administration's trade policies.  USTR Director for Western Europe 
and Middle East Affairs Jason Buntin was also present at the 
meetings. 
 
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Swiss Support Expanding Forum To Strategic Dialogue 
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¶3.  (SBU)  A/USTR Chris Wilson and SECO Head of Bilateral Economic 
Relations Ambassador Monika Ruehl co-chaired a Trade and Investment 
Cooperation Forum ("Forum") meeting on June 2.  Both praised the 
strong bilateral trade and investment relations.  A/USTR Wilson 
suggested expanding the Forum beyond technical problem-solving to 
broader strategic issues such as the intersection between 
environment or labor and trade.  The Head of the Swiss Environment 
Ministry International Affairs Office strongly supported adding a 
joint working group of trade and environmental specialists to 
exchange ideas regarding environmental goods and services.  Ruehl, 
while wanting to maintain the Forum as a platform for resolving 
trade issues, also supported more strategic dialogue and proposed 
additional private sector outreach by both sides. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Switzerland's Chief Negotiator at the WTO Marie-Gabrielle 
Ineichen-Fleisch stressed the importance of the WTO multilateral 
forum to Swiss trade.  She highlighted the Swiss and US common 
positions in regards to agricultural concessions and the need for 
emerging economies to make specific reciprocal proposals.  She 
proposed a bilateral working group meeting in September to 
brainstorm on moving Doha forward. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Senior Swiss trade experts reviewed the few technical 
issues that still remain under the Forum, such as beef and swine 
exports and potential U.S. legislation that may result in unintended 
barriers to trade. All parties agreed that more working-level 
communication was necessary to address these issues. 
 
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Swiss Parliamentarians Emphasize Avoiding Protectionism 
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¶6.  (SBU) During an informal meeting on June 2 with four Swiss 
Parliamentarians, the legislators emphasized that "the best stimulus 
package for the economy is free trade." Their questions to A/USTR 
Wilson reflected their interests in the new US administration's 
trade policies' impact on the Doha Round and bilateral agreements as 
well as concerns about pressure for increased protectionism in the 
US.  They asked about status of implementation of the "Buy America" 
provisions of recent U.S. economic recovery legislation.  A/USTR 
Wilson reassured the Parliamentarians by outlining the trade policy 
priorities set out by U.S. Trade Representative Kirk, and citing the 
U.S. commitment to finding a path forward to conclude the Doha 
Round, without reverting to "square one."  He also discussed 
developing a more strategic approach to the Forum to enhance 
bilateral trade relations. 
 
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Meeting with State Secretary Gerber 
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¶7.  (SBU) A/USTR Wilson also held separate meetings with SECO State 
Secretary Jean-Daniel Gerber and local business representatives to 
discuss the Forum, WTO and the Doha Round, and the new US 
administration's trade policies.  Gerber explained that on-going 
EU-Swiss negotiations for an agriculture free trade agreement will 
be drawn out given the politically sensitive farm sector and 
Switzerland's 2011 elections.  However, once an agreement is struck, 
FTA's with other countries, including the US, will be easier to 
conclude.  Gerber also invited USTR Ron Kirk to participate as a 
panelist with Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard at the Joint 
Economic Commission Panel at the World Economic Forum in January 
2010, when Leuthard will also be President of Switzerland under the 
Alpine country's rotational presidential system. 
 
¶8.  (U) This cable was cleared by A/USTR Wilson. 
 
CARTER