VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHGP #1169 3420853
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080853Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7504
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS SINGAPORE 001169
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTAA
STATE PASS USTR FOR EBRZYTWA, JKEMP, DOSLER
COMMERCE FOR PAREKH
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETRD PREL ECON WTRO SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE SUPPORTIVE OF EXPORT LICENSING TRANSPARENCY
PROPOSAL
REF: STATE 121239
1. Embassy officers from Japan, South Korea and Chinese Taipei
delivered reftel points December 7 regarding a joint proposal on
transparency in export licensing. (Note: Due to Chinese Taipei's
participation, Econoff declined to join the demarche.) According to
Shinnosuke Kameyama of the Japanese Embassy, Ms. TAN Lay Lin, Deputy
Director of the WTO & International Trade Division of the Ministry
of Trade and Industry, said that Singapore is in agreement with the
proposal. However, she believed that the information requirements
in the proposal were too burdensome for developing countries. She
encouraged flexibility in providing technical assistance and a long
phase-in period to assist developing countries to comply.
2. Ms. Tan also expressed concern that the proposal was not on the
NAMA chair's priority list. Japan Emboff explained that the
priority list was over 18 months old and that since the onset of the
financial crisis members have been discussing proposals without
regard to the list. The group encouraged Singapore trade officials
to discuss the proposal with other ASEAN member nations.
SHIELDS