Cablegate: Philippines Backs Usg On Ita Duty-Free Coverage

VZCZCXYZ0014
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHML #0708 0640805
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 050805Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5532
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 2180
INFO RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY

UNCLAS MANILA 000708

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MTS PHILIP INGENERI
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR JASON BERNSTEIN
COMMERCE FOR ERIC HOLLOWAY
GENEVA AND BRUSSELS FOR USTR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD WTO RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES BACKS USG ON ITA DUTY-FREE COVERAGE

REF: STATE 22242

On February 26, EconOff sent reftel demarche and talking
points to Thomas Aquino, Senior Undersecretary of Trade and
Industry. In a follow-up meeting on March 2, Aquino
indicated that the GRP shares our concern that the European
Commission will levy tariffs against certain ITA products.
He noted that the Philippines is a significant exporter of
ITA products to European Union countries. He said his
department had discussed this matter internally for several
weeks, and said that the Philippine delegation will have
instructions to support the U.S. position at the ITA meeting
in Geneva on March 6.
KENNEY

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