VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBK #0606 0570938
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 260938Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1958
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1973
UNCLAS BANGKOK 000606
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTA CHENNIGER
STATE PASS USTR FOR TNISSEN
E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD WTO TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND NOT PLANNING TO SEND WTO SERVICES DELEGATION
REF: STATE 18380
1. The Embassy delivered the letter from USTR Ambassador Schwab to
Minister of Commerce Mingkwan's office on February 26 per
instructions in reftel. In addition, Econ Counselor subsequently
spoke to Ms. Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Director General of Thailand's
Department of Trade Negotiations, to emphasize our desire for
bilateral WTO services negotiations in Geneva. Chutima, who is away
from her office at an executive training course this week, said it
would be difficult to get a team together to meet bilaterally with
the U.S. in Geneva by March 10, and at this point did not plan to do
so. Chutima added that Thailand had already provided its offer on
services, but would take our points under consideration.
2. The Embassy will continue to press the Ministry to send a team
to Geneva, but at this point it is not clear that will happen.
JOHN