Cablegate: Taiwan Supports Wco Framework of Standards To

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

122309Z Jun 05

UNCLAS TAIPEI 002572

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/TC,
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO AIT/W

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD TW
SUBJECT: Taiwan Supports WCO Framework of Standards to
Secure and Facilitate Global Trade

REF: State 94927

1. On June 8, Econoff delivered reftel talking points on the
World Customs Organization Framework of Standards to Secure
and Facilitate Global Trade to Taiwan Directorate General of
Customs, Clearance Operation Department Deputy Director
William Wang (Wang Liang) and four other Directorate General
of Customs officials. Wang indicated that Taiwan fully
supports the Framework. However, he had six suggestions
that should guide its implementation as follows:

(i) Framework should promote trade facilitation.
(ii) The Framework measures should be agreed upon by all
economies involved in implementation.
(iii) Effort should be made to minimize the costs of
implementing the Framework.
(iv) The Framework should have measurable performance
indicators.
(v) The Framework should be flexible enough to allow various
measures to be adjusted to the needs of individual
economies.
(vi) More advanced economies should provide practical
assistance with real resources to less advanced economies in
addition to advice. As an example he mentioned that the
U.S. should provide risk assessment software in addition to
advice on how to set up a risk assessment system to target
customs inspections.

2. Wang also took the opportunity to point out that the U.S.
had sometimes failed to follow through on requests made by
Taiwan customs officials. He said that visiting U.S.
customs officials had occasionally indicated that they would
assist Taiwan in some way, but had not followed through.
Hsu Jen-chih, Department of Collection and Procedures
Section Chief, added that Taiwan has questions about the
practical implementation of some of the Framework's measures
and hopes for further consultations or training from the
U.S. on implementation.

3. Econoff thanked Wang for his suggestions on the
implementation of the Framework and assured him they would
be relayed to Washington. He emphasized that the U.S.
agrees that the Framework should facilitate trade in
addition to enhancing security. Econoff said the U.S. would
also seek to ensure that the Framework's initiatives are
cost-effective. Citing the Container Security Initiative
and Megaports programs, he noted that the United States has
dedicated considerable resources that indicate U.S.
commitment to this issue. Econoff asked Wang to keep AIT/T
informed of requests they made to visiting U.S. customs
officials so that AIT/T could follow up on their behalf.

PAAL

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