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Cablegate: Spain: Demarche On Doha Round - Geographic

Published: Fri 23 Oct 2009 09:25 AM
VZCZCXRO8031
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHMD #1038 2960925
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230925Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1368
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 2968
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 4166
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0919
UNCLAS MADRID 001038
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TPP AND EUR/WE
STATE PASS USTR TANUJA GARDE AND DAWN SHACKLEFORD
COMMERCE FOR 4212/CALVERT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR EUN SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: DEMARCHE ON DOHA ROUND - GEOGRAPHIC
INDICATORS, EXTENSION, AND TRIPS/CBD PATENT DISCLOSURE
REF: STATE 104985
1. Econoff delivered reftel demarche to Marta Blanco, Deputy
Director General for EU Trade Policy, and Isabel Pastor,
Advisor for EU Trade Policy, at the Ministry of Industry,
Tourism and Trade.
2. As this was an initial meeting - Blanco is new to her
position, having replaced longtime Deputy Director Inigo
Febrel in September - Blanco took the opportunity to provide
an overview of Spanish trade policy and GOS aspirations in
the area of trade for its EU presidency in the first half of
2010. She said Spain remains keenly interested in reaching
agreement on outstanding Doha issues as a way to generate
confidence in international markets and create new business
opportunities to help the global economy recover. The GOS
has high hopes that progress can be made at the upcoming WTO
Ministerial, creating momentum that can lead to important
achievements in early 2010. Minister of Industry, Tourism,
and Trade Miguel Sebastian will lead Spain's delegation to
the Ministerial, and Blanco asked who will represent the
United States. She stressed the GOS' interest in more
bilateral contacts, which she said will contribute to
transparency and help bring about a convergence on the issues.
3. In response to the demarche, Blanco stated that a binding
registry for geographical indications (GI) and GI extension
are key priorities for Spain in the Doha Round. She
acknowledged that negotiation of patent disclosure rules,
though not specifically related to the GI issues, is
mentioned in the same document and represents the European
Commission-Swiss position. However, she indicated that the
GOS had less interest in this TRIPS/CBD matter than in GI.
She took on board Econoff's explanation of why the U.S. does
not support amending TRIPS to add a disclosure requirement.
At the same time, she expressed disappointment that our
positions were so far apart on the question of the GI
registry and GI extension, even while holding out hope that
we might still find common ground. Econoff agreed this was
desirable but cautioned against unrealistic expectations of a
change in the U.S. position.
4. Blanco stated that strengthening bilateral relations with
the United States is a high priority for Spain's EU
Presidency and that Spain sees the Transatlantic Economic
Council (TEC) as an important vehicle for achieving that
goal. She noted that during Spain's presidency, the EU will
also hold high-level meetings with Canada, Russia, Central
American countries, Andean countries, and North African
countries, and will try to move the Mediterranean process
forward. Among trade issues Spain would particularly like to
see results on during its EU presidency, she listed the
Boeing-Airbus dispute and ACTA negotiations.
5. Comment: While Blanco was receptive to our Doha Round
message that the parties should focus their efforts on
achieving better market access for agriculture and NAMA, she
gave no indication that Spain was prepared to reconsider its
strongly-held position on the binding GI registry and GI
extension. End Comment.
CHACON
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