VZCZCXYZ0009
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAM #0222/01 0240943
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 240943Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6740
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0631
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 6360
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0005
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 0455
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 4312
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0289
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 2009
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0445
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 2272
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 5765
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC

UNCLAS AMMAN 000222 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ELA AND EEB 
STATE PASS TO USTR (CWILSON, SFRANCESKI) AND USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD ECIN ECON ELAB EFIN EAID PGOV JO
SUBJECT:  U.S.-Jordan FTA Joint Committee Meets; Seeks Closer Trade 
and Investment Ties 
 
REFS: A) Amman 2663 
B) Amman 2597 
B) AMMAN 2572 
C) AMMAN 2459 
D) AMMAN 2408 
E) AMMAN 1177 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Jordan's Ministry of Industry and Trade hosted 
the fifth U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Area Agreement Joint Committee 
meeting on December 15 in Amman.  The agenda focused on expanding 
trade and investment ties and stressed the importance of full 
implementation of not just the trade agreement, but also its 
environmental and labor aspects.  The GOJ sought additional 
technical assistance and capacity-building support and updated the 
USG on developments concerning pending legislation impacting labor, 
trade, intellectual property rights, customs, and environmental 
issues.  The two delegations agreed to formulate an action plan to 
better coordinate next steps in fully implementing the FTA and in 
increasing bilateral trade and investment between the U.S. and 
Jordan.  End Summary. 
 
FTA JC Meets in Amman 
--------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Jordan's Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) hosted on 
December 15 the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Area Agreement (FTA) Joint 
Committee (JC) meeting in Amman.  The JC took place on the eve of 
the FTA coming into full force in January 2010.  The day-long 
meeting focused on the agenda items described in refs A and C. 
Ambassador Beecroft opened the JC on the behalf of the U.S. 
delegation and emphasized in remarks later repeated by the media 
that U.S.-Jordan trade and commercial ties were key components of 
the close bilateral relationship and that the FTA provided an 
opportunity to further increase two-way trade and investment. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Montasser Oklah, MOIT Secretary General, speaking on behalf 
of the GOJ, welcomed the delegation and commended the successes of 
Jordan's trade agreements with the U.S. and pledged to seek ways to 
increase trade levels and diversify Jordanian trade bound for the 
U.S.  Assistant United States Trade Representative for Europe and 
the Middle East Christopher Wilson added that the U.S. seeks to 
increase its trade ties with Jordan and noted that the U.S.-Jordan 
trade agreements yielded an increase in the value of bilateral trade 
from $306 million in 1999 to at least an expected $2 billion in 
¶2009.  Note:  MOIT Minister Amer Hadidi, reinstated as part of the 
new cabinet on December 14, was called to an event with the other 
ministers and was unable to attend the JC meeting.  End note. 
 
USG Focus on Labor and Environment Aspects 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) Both delegations supported increasing bilateral trade and 
investment and encouraged the further diversification of Jordanian 
trade with the U.S.  USG interlocutors stressed that a focus of the 
Obama Administration was the implementation of all aspects of the 
FTA, with added attention placed on the environment and labor 
sections of the agreement.  Jordanian participants were supportive 
of the specified USG goals and expressed their desire to expand 
cooperation and technical assistance with their relevant USG 
counterparts, particularly those focused on trade and investment 
issues. 
 
GOJ Requests for Action on FTA Issues 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) The GOJ restated its request that the U.S. expedite the 
Pest Risk Assessment (PRA) process to allow U.S.-market access to 
Jordanian agricultural products.  MOIT and Ministry of Agriculture 
representatives restated their desire that the USG advance the PRA 
process on the five of six remaining agricultural items without any 
further reprioritization or other new arrangements.  The U.S. 
delegation informed the GOJ that it was not possible to expedite 
PRAs, as it is a scientific process.  However, the USDA 
 
representative will inquire as to whether any of the commodities in 
question are eligible for expedited rule-making. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The GOJ also reiterated the joint Jordanian and Israeli 
request for the USG to identify ways in which regional cumulation 
for trade could be accomplished.  They acknowledged the USG's points 
on the difficult legal path to achieving such a goal, but welcomed a 
thorough consideration of the matter. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Likewise, the GOJ sought an update on the possibility of 
amending the U.S. visa reciprocity schedule for Jordanian investors 
(E1/E2 visas), which is being reviewed by the Bureau of Consular 
Affairs and the Department of Homeland Security. 
 
Key Laws to Move Forward as Temporary Legislation 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶8. (SBU) The GOJ also updated the JC on the status of several key 
Jordanian laws, some of them critically important for IPR protection 
as they provide enforcement authorities with ex officio authority to 
seize illegal or counterfeit items and bring cases against 
violators.  The amendment to Article 41 of the Customs Law was most 
likely to be implemented as a temporary law, but final decision by 
the new cabinet is still pending.  The Copyright Law, JISM Law, and 
Trademark Law are still pending and their fates depend on the new 
cabinet and whether they will be implemented at temporary laws or 
held until a new parliament is elected in the last quarter of 2010. 
The delegations also discussed labor and environmental laws.  Post 
will continue to monitor development on these important laws. 
 
WTO - GPA Status 
---------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) The JC also discussed Jordan's pursuit of accession to the 
WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).  The GOJ sought a 
flexible position from the USG but conceded that the GPA discussion 
was difficult internally for GOJ stakeholders.  The MOIT committed 
itself to reengaging with GOJ entities, notably military and 
security-related institutions, to promote the benefits of the GPA 
for Jordanian businesses.  The GOJ reiterated its commitment to 
provide a response to the USG in early 2010 and to try to conclude 
its GPA accession by the end of 2010.  The GOJ also asked for the 
USG to show Jordan "additional flexibility" where possible during 
GPA discussions. 
 
The Way Forward:  Developing an Action Plan 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) The two delegations agreed on the advantages of having JC 
meetings in the future and on formulating a written "action plan" to 
include specific actions, and defined responsibilities and target 
dates for those actions.  USTR and MOIT would consider how to best 
formulate any such "action plan," which might take the form of an 
exchange of letters with an agreed attachment of action items. 
 
Revitalizing TRIDE 
------------------ 
 
¶11. (SBU) The GOJ raised the successes of and asserted the need for 
reinvigorating the Trilateral Industrial Development (TRIDE) program 
that provides a key mechanism encouraging Jordanian-Israeli-American 
cooperation, joint research and development.  The GOJ told the JC 
that a joint letter signed by the Jordanian and Israeli Ambassadors 
in Washington to Secretary Clinton dated November 30, sought a $2 
million budget for TRIDE for 2010-2011, with each of the three 
parties contributing $666,000.  The MOIT asserted that TRIDE was a 
useful tool for privatizing, and therefore deepening, the peace 
process. 
 
GOJ Seeks Assistance 
-------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) Another key message shared by the GOJ during the JC was 
 
the interest of Jordanian institutions in receiving additional 
technical assistance from their counterparts in the U.S.  The MOIT 
provided the Embassy with a package of proposed projects and concept 
papers on December 28, outlining the technical assistance requests 
raised by GOJ participants (forwarded to USTR and NEA/ELA via 
e-mail). 
 
¶13. (SBU) The package includes proposals for: 
--Jordan Investment Board twinning program with Invest in America or 
other investment agencies; 
--Trade policy and capacity building programs with the MOIT; 
--The establishment of a MENA Regional Training Center for Quality 
Infrastructure between the Jordan Institution for Standards and 
Metrology and the National Institute of Standards and Technology; 
and 
--Capacity building programs for Jordan Customs. 
 
Chambers of Commerce and Site Visits Round Out Trip 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶14. (SBU) After the JC, the USTR delegation met with the Jordan 
Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan. 
Both organizations stressed their desire to increase bilateral trade 
and to further diversify trade.  The Jordanian businessmen and women 
encouraged the USG to work with them to further publicize the 
benefits and opportunities presented under the FTA and expressed 
their dissatisfaction with visa inconveniences and perceived poor 
treatment at ports of entry, two issues which they asserted have a 
negative impact on trying to increase business and commercial ties 
between the U.S. and Jordan.  Visiting U.S. delegation members also 
visited Qualifying Industrial Zone garment factories, Ministry of 
Labor officials, and environment-sector leaders (related reporting 
septel).  During the visit, AUSTR Wilson held successful media 
interviews and the visit overall received positive press coverage, 
promoting U.S.-Jordan trade relations as an important part of the 
overall close bilateral relationship. 
 
¶15. (SBU) Meeting Participants 
 
USG 
Ambassador R. Stephen Beecroft 
Christopher Wilson - USTR - AUSTR for Europe and the 
   Middle East 
Gail Strickler - USTR - AUSTR for Textiles 
Mark Mowrey - USTR - DAUSTR for Europe and the Middle East 
Mara Burr - USTR - DAUSTR for Environment 
James Rude - Dept of Labor - Director for the Middle East 
Naomi Wiegler - Dept of Commerce - Office of Market Access 
Elizabeth Autry - USDA - FAS Office of Negotiations and 
   Agreements 
Cynthia Iglesias - USDA - FAS U.S. Embassy Cairo 
Julie Egan - Dept of State - EEB 
Natalie E. Brown - Embassy Amman - Economic Counselor 
Ali E. Lejlic - Embassy Amman - Economic Officer 
Shereen Al-Uzaizi - Embassy Amman - Economic Specialist 
Mohammed Khraishy - Embassy Amman - Agriculture Specialist 
 
GOJ 
Montasser Oklah - MOIT - Secretary General 
Yaseen Khayyat - Director of the Jordan Institution for 
   Standards and Metrology (JISM) 
Mamoun Talhouni - Director of the National Library 
Emmad Nosaeir - Director of International Cooperation, 
   Jordan Customs 
4AsQ>Q`?DNour Hmoud - Jordan Investment Board 
Laila Jarrar - Jordan Food and Drug Administration 
Lejo Sibbel - Advisor, Ministry of Labor 
Solaiman Rkaibat - Ministry of Agriculture 
Mohammad Katbeh - Ministry of Agriculture 
Loay Sehwail - MOIT - Director, Industrial Development Dept 
Khaled Arabeyyat - MOIT - Director, Industrial Property 
   Protection 
Yousef Alshamali - MOIT - Foreign Trade Policy Dept 
 
Sowsan Alnabulsi - MOIT - Foreign Trade Policy Dept 
Omar Alfanek - MOIT - Foreign Trade Policy Dept 
Fawaz Bilbeisi - Economic Counselor, Embassy of Jordan in 
   Washington 
Note:  Other representatives from Jordan's ministries of 
Environment, Interior, and Labor, as well as from Jordan Customs, 
and the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation also attended the 
JC.  End note. 
 
¶16. (SBU) The visiting delegation has not cleared on this message. 
 
Visit Amman's Classified Website at 
http://diplopedia.state.sgov.gov/index?title< /a> 
=Embassy_Amman 
 
BEECROFT