VZCZCXRO9533
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPG #0457 1171406
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271406Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8959
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS PRAGUE 000457
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE EFICHTE AND EB/IPA JBOGER
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR FOR JCHOE-GROVES AND WMOORE
COMMERCE FOR 4232/ITA/MAC/MROGERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR EINV PREL EZ
SUBJECT: SPECIAL 301 CZECH REPUBLIC 2007
REF: STATE 56305
1. (SBU) Political-Economic Counselor delivered reftel points on
2007 Special 301 Review to Ministry of Industry and Trade
Multilateral Trade Director Ladislava Votavova on April 27 (delivery
was made on April 27 since Voltavova and most Czech interlocutors
will not be working on April 30, the day before a state holiday).
Stressing the necessity for GOCR to show real progress in solving
the border market problem, Pol-Econ Counselor explained that while
the CR will not appear on a Special 301 Watch List during this
cycle, it will be subject to an Out-of-Cycle Review (OCR) in six
months. We explained that this OCR will examine the progress the
GOCR is able to demonstrate with its IPR Action Plan. We also
offered USG assistance in devising this plan, including a possible
DVC.
2. (SBU) Votavova thanked us for the advance notice and for the
overall USG decision (and assured us there would be no public
discussion prior to the USTR announcement). She said she understood
the OCR procedure, and added that the six month deadline would prove
very helpful in getting other GOCR entities to engage seriously on
the Action Plan. She promised that the Ministry would work closely
with the USG going forward, and expressed hope that there may be
some USG technical assistance as the GOCR developed and implemented
the Plan.
Graber