VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGP #1169 3420853
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080853Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7504
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 001169 
 
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTAA 
STATE PASS USTR FOR EBRZYTWA, JKEMP, DOSLER 
COMMERCE FOR PAREKH 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EFIN ETRD PREL ECON WTRO SN
 
SUBJECT:  SINGAPORE SUPPORTIVE OF EXPORT LICENSING TRANSPARENCY 
PROPOSAL 
 
REF: STATE 121239 
 
¶1.  Embassy officers from Japan, South Korea and Chinese Taipei 
delivered reftel points December 7 regarding a joint proposal on 
transparency in export licensing.  (Note:  Due to Chinese Taipei's 
participation, Econoff declined to join the demarche.)  According to 
Shinnosuke Kameyama of the Japanese Embassy, Ms. TAN Lay Lin, Deputy 
Director of the WTO & International Trade Division of the Ministry 
of Trade and Industry, said that Singapore is in agreement with the 
proposal.  However, she believed that the information requirements 
in the proposal were too burdensome for developing countries.  She 
encouraged flexibility in providing technical assistance and a long 
phase-in period to assist developing countries to comply. 
 
¶2.  Ms. Tan also expressed concern that the proposal was not on the 
NAMA chair's priority list.  Japan Emboff explained that the 
priority list was over 18 months old and that since the onset of the 
financial crisis members have been discussing proposals without 
regard to the list.  The group encouraged Singapore trade officials 
to discuss the proposal with other ASEAN member nations. 
 
SHIELDS