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DE RUEHHI #1406/01 3560652
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O R 220652Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0638
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBD/AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 0002
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0039
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 0054
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD FAS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON

UNCLAS HANOI 001406 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD ECON ECIN EINV PREL VM
SUBJECT: TPP Country Representatives Looking to Melbourne for Answers 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  At a December 21 dinner hosted by the 
Ambassador, Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) country representatives 
inquired about the goals and objectives of the United States at the 
upcoming Melbourne meeting March 15-19, including the shape and 
content of the agreement to make it a 21st century agreement, 
timing, and rules for new members.  The group agreed that the first 
round of negotiations in Melbourne will be key to answering some of 
these questions as well as setting the stage for future talks. 
Vietnam's Vice Trade Minister said Vietnam still must decide 
whether it wants to be a full member of TPP.  As the Melbourne 
meeting approaches, Post would appreciate any additional 
information Washington can provide on the TPP process and next 
steps.  End summary. 
 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) Ambassador hosted a dinner on December 21 for 
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement country representatives, 
including Ambassadors/Charges from Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, 
Chile, and Singapore (Peru is not represented in Vietnam).  Vietnam 
officials included Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) 
Vice-Minister Nguyen Cam Tu (Vietnam's official lead TPP 
negotiator), MOIT Director General for Multilateral Trade Tran Quoc 
Khanh, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director General for 
Multilateral Economic Policy Nguyen Nguyet Nga. 
 
 
 
TPP Members Looking for Clarity at Melbourne Meeting 
 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) Ambassador informed the guests that the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR) Kirk had formally notified Congress of 
the Administration's intent to enter into TPP negotiations on 
December 14, and briefed the group on USTR's on-going consultations 
with Congress and stakeholders.  The Australian Charge said 
Australia wanted to support USTR Kirk in his efforts to promote 
TPP, noting that the TPP Ambassadors in Washington were considering 
writing a letter to Kirk (that he could use with others) if that 
would be helpful.  MOIT Director General Khanh commented that it 
was not an easy time to promote new trade agreements in the United 
States given record high unemployment; USG officials had to explain 
how this agreement would translate into new jobs.  Several 
Ambassadors observed that officials needed to make the same case 
for TPP in their own capitals. 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) The group agreed that the March 15-19 meeting in Melbourne 
would be important for setting the stage for future talks.  MOIT 
Director General Khanh said the GVN considers the March meeting to 
be a "scoping" exercise; the Singapore Ambassador concurred, 
calling it a "pathfinding" meeting.  The attendees agreed there 
were still many unanswered questions about TPP, including what a 
"21st century agreement" would include, how it would relate to 
existing trade agreements, and what was a realistic timeframe for 
negotiations.  Most of the group emphasized that one of the most 
important outstanding issues - and a key task for negotiators in 
March - was determining the rules for new members.  (Note:  The 
Australian and New Zealand representatives asked econoff separately 
what U.S. policy was on additional TPP members, noting they had 
heard the U.S. may be open to the idea.  End note.)  The officials 
said they expected more clarity on all of these questions after the 
Melbourne meeting. 
 
 
 
Vietnam Still on the Fence 
 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) MOIT Vice Minister Tu underscored that the most important 
decision facing Vietnam was whether it wanted to be a full member 
in the TPP, claiming there may not be enough time to close the gap 
between Vietnam and the other members before negotiations 
concluded.  MFA Director General Nga added that Vietnam would need 
"special accommodation," and asked if other members were willing to 
help as they had when Vietnam acceded to the World Trade 
Organization.  MOIT Director General Khanh offered that he thought 
there would not be a lower standard for Vietnam in the TPP; 
however, he expected there would be a significant chapter on 
technical assistance and additional time for Vietnam to phase in 
certain provisions.  The Ambassador urged Vietnam to enter the 
negotiations with an open and flexible approach. 
 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment and action request:  This dinner meeting confirmed 
there is real enthusiasm about TPP, but also many outstanding 
questions.  It was clear that the participants see the US as the 
major driver of the TPP and expect us to play a leading role in 
setting out our expectations and ambitions for the agreement. 
Participants also want to continue to meet informally to exchange 
information and gossip as the process moves ahead and agreed to 
meet again the first week in March just prior to the Melbourne 
meeting.  USTR and State's regular updates have been key to helping 
us answer the many TPP-related inquiries we receive.  As the 
Melbourne meeting approaches, we would appreciate any additional 
information Washington can provide, i.e., the composition and 
organization of our TPP negotiating team, the interagency process 
in Washington, updates on USTR's ongoing consultations with 
Congress and stakeholders, and next steps. 
Michalak