Cablegate: Us Companies Respond Favorably to Taiwan Epa's New

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS TAIPEI 003616

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC AND OES/IHA

STATE PLEASE PASS TO AIT/W, USEPA AND USTR

USTR FOR KI, USEPA FOR OIA/THOMPSON

USDOC FOR 4431/ITA/MAC/AP/OPB/TAIWAN/MBMORGAN
USDOC FOR 3132/USFCS/OIO/EAP/ABACHER/ADESARRAN
USDA/FAS/ITP/MEYER, FARINA
USDA FAS FOR ITP/AAD
USDA FAS FOR CMP/GFD, COTS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KTDB SENV TW ESTH
SUBJECT: US COMPANIES RESPOND FAVORABLY TO TAIWAN EPA'S NEW
DRAFT PACKAGING RULE

A) TAIPEI 03242 B) TAIPEI 03145 C) TAIPEI 02673 D) TAIPEI
03180

1. Summary. In July 2004, Taiwan's Environmental Protection
Administration (TEPA) introduced a draft rule to limit
excessive packaging. In response to industry opposition to
the rule, TEPA issued a revised draft of the rule on
October 12. As reported in ref A, the second draft is much
narrower in scope than the original. Costco and Proctor and
Gamble, which initially strongly opposed the rule, are now
both satisfied with the changes and with TEPA's response to
their concerns. End Summary.

BACKGROUND
----------

2. As reported in Refs A-D, TEPA is eager to finalize
regulations to restrict excessive packaging of goods in
order to reduce waste, and move Taiwan towards its ultimate
goal of complete recycling and zero waste by 2020.
Initially TEPA was hoping to finalize the rule by September
2004. However, in part due to the strong negative reaction
of foreign industry as reported in reftel B, TEPA has
redrafted the rule and postponed its time-line for
implementation.

US COMPANIES SATISFIED WITH CHANGES
-----------------------------------

3. As reported in Ref A, the second draft of the rule
issued on October 12 significantly narrowed the scope of the
rule. Following the issuance of the draft, AIT informed
both AmCham and key US companies of the changes and of the
deadline to comment. In anticipation of the comment
deadline at the end of this month, AIT followed up with the
two US companies, which had expressed the most opposition
to the initial draft of the rule. Those companies, Costco
and Proctor and Gamble, are now both satisfied with the
changes to the rule and with TEPA's willingness to work with
them to accommodate their concerns. Neither company plans
to submit any formal comments as all of their major concerns
have already been addressed.

Paal

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