VZCZCXRO7087
PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR
DE RUEHRH #1459 3071035
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031035Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1830
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RHFJUSC/US CUSTOMS SERVICE WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS RIYADH 001459 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR CHRIS WILSON, JASON BUNTIN 
STATE PASS TO DOC FOR STEVEN GARRETT 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/TTP/BTA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD KIPR ECON EINV PREL SA
SUBJECT: GCC WANTS MORE TRADE ENGAGEMENT WITH U.S. 
 
REF: A. RIYADH 1407 
     ¶B. RIYADH 1425 
     ¶C. RIYADH 1441 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: In a frank discussion with visiting AUSTR 
Wilson, GCC Assistant Secretary General Al-Mazrouy called for 
deepened U.S. trade relations with the GCC.  Al-Mazrouy noted 
progress on trademark and data protection laws, and agreed to 
address industry concerns over the implementation of new 
country of origin labeling requirements.  Deliberations on 
biotech labeling continue, and the Gulf Standards 
Organization welcomed more engagement with the United States. 
 End summary. 
 
Bilateral FTAs Frustrate Customs Union 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Assistant Secretary 
General for Economic Affairs Mohammed Al-Mazrouy told 
visiting Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Chris Wilson on 
October 20 that the GCC was interested in deepening its 
historical relationship with the United States, and suggested 
the U.S. pursue a unified free trade agreement (FTA) with the 
GCC as a whole.  Al-Mazrouy said the U.S. FTAs with Bahrain 
and Oman were making it difficult for the GCC to fully 
implement its customs union.  He said the U.S. and the GCC 
will need to address inconsistencies between these bilateral 
FTAs and the GCC customs union at some point.  In subsequent 
meetings with Emboffs, Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim 
Al-Assaf and GCC Director General of International Economic 
Relations Dr. Abdel Aziz Al-Uwaisheg echoed these comments 
(ref A and C).  Al-Mazrouy said the GCC would implement a 
single currency in "a couple of years." 
 
Trademark and Data Protection Laws 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Al-Mazrouy said the GCC was currently reviewing U.S. 
comments on the trademark law issued by the Supreme Council. 
A GCC "trade secrets" law to protect research and development 
data is being drafted by an internal committee and should be 
ready by the end of 2009, he said. 
 
Country of Origin Labeling 
-------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Wilson shared U.S. industry concerns over 
implementation of the new country of origin requirements, and 
handed Al-Mazrouy a list of specific questions for 
clarification.  Al-Mazrouy said the country where a good is 
assembled is the country of origin, and agreed to seek 
clarification on other questions. 
 
Agricultural Issues 
------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Asked about the role of labeling in biotechnology, 
the GCC Agricultural Director said they were listening to 
different views on labeling and would release a customs 
regulation once their internal deliberations concluded.  The 
Director welcomed Wilson's offer to submit the U.S. position 
on labeling.  The Director also noted an upcoming animal 
welfare conference in the U.S., which the GCC member states 
are interested in attending.  (Note: ATO subsequently sent 
information about the November 15-17 Society of Animal 
Welfare Administrators conference, to be held in Austin, 
Texas, to the GCC.  End note.) 
 
Gulf Standards Organization 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Gulf Standards Organization (GSO), which seeks 
to harmonize standards in the Gulf region, is a coordinating 
office within the GCC.  GSO Director Anwar Al-Abdullah told 
Wilson his "small but ambitious" organization's 2010 goals 
include: establishing a Gulf Accreditation Center in early 
2010, proposing a common law of metrology in November, and 
pilot-testing a conformity mark on toys starting January 1, 
¶2010.  Al-Abdullah said his five-year-old organization would 
welcome U.S. assistance. 
 
¶7. (U) AUSTR Chris Wilson cleared on this cable. 
SMITH