Cablegate: Bahrain: Wto Service Negotiations Update

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

151050Z May 05

UNCLAS MANAMA 000694

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/TPP/MTA AWHITTEN
GENEVA FOR USTR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON BA WTO
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: WTO SERVICE NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

REF: A. MANAMA 670

B. STATE 81619

1. Ministry of Industry and Commerce Director of Foreign
Trade Relations Abdul Razak Zainalabedin told EconOff May 15
that Bahrain submitted its initial offer in the ongoing
General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations
March 31, 2003 and held its first round of bilateral meetings
with members of the WTO, including the United States, May
2003. Zainalabedin emphasized that the GOB shares the USG
view that it is in every member's interest to participate in
the services negotiations, both to secure a positive outcome
on services itself and in support of wider Doha Development
Agenda objectives.

2. Zainalebedin said the Ministry of Industry and Commerce
is engaging with appropriate GOB officials to finalize
Bahrain's revised WTO services negotiation offer (Ref B) and
that the GOB expects to meet the May deadline. Bahrain will
send a delegation to Geneva to hold another round of
bilaterals during the upcoming services cluster June 27-July
1.
MONROE

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