Cablegate: Thailand and Gi in the Wto

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

UNCLAS BANGKOK 006564

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/IPE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD KIPR WTO
SUBJECT: THAILAND AND GI IN THE WTO

REF: SECSTATE 180474

1. On October 17, Emboff met with Deputy Director General
Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa of the Department of Intellectual
Property, and Trademark Office Director Pajchima Thanasanti
and presented talking points on upcoming WTO agriculture
negotiations and geographical indications (GI) as requested
in reftel.

2. DDG Wiboonlasana stated that while the EU proposal was
not perfect, Thailand supported Article 23 extension for GIs
in the WTO, and favored a multilateral registration system
for GIs. Wiboonlasana explained that the cost of
registration of Thai GIs abroad was expensive and Thailand
would therefore be supportive of a system that would reduce
costs. She was less concerned with the costs to Thailand
that could result from the EU's more expansive proposal as
Thailand did not to her knowledge produce any of the items
that the EU wished to protect under geographical indications.

3. Wiboonlasana indicated that Thailand did not support
inclusion of geographical indications in agriculture
negotiations and agreed with the U.S. position that GIs
should be considered in the TRIPS Council. However, she
encouraged flexibility by the U.S. in TRIPS negotiations and
warned that a lack of progress in TRIPS on GIs would
inevitably hamper agriculture negotiations.
BOYCE

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