Cablegate: Dvc Request: Undersecretary Josette Shiner On Wto

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

UNCLAS PRETORIA 004606

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EB/TPP/MTA-BCRAFT; AF/EPS-MNORMAN; IIP/G/AF-
AMURPHY; AF/PD-LMING

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD KPAO SF
SUBJECT: DVC REQUEST: UNDERSECRETARY JOSETTE SHINER ON WTO

1. Program description: Pretoria requests a one-hour DVC
with Under Secretary for Economic, Business, and
Agricultural Affairs Josette Shiner to interact with South
African media and academics on U.S. commitment to a
successful WTO Ministerial Conference. This engagement would
be designed to counter persistent inaccuracies about the US
position on agricultural subsidies, inaccuracies that
threaten to take root in South Africa. Chief among the
inaccurate claims being repeated by South African Government
officials is that the U.S. WTO agriculture proposal, instead
of ensuring subsidy cuts, actually permits the United States
to expand its domestic subsidies through box switching.

2. This request is in response to SecState 207068 from the
Undersecretary, which asks that Posts rapidly rebut any
attempts to mischaracterize the USG position in WTO
negotiations.

3. An earlier plan to have a second DVC with SAG trade
officials has been put on hold pending their confirmation of
availability to participate.

4. Format: We propose a one-hour DVC with prominent business
journalists and think-tank academics. U.S. Consulate
Johannesburg (PAS) would host the dialogue.

5. Time Frame: The DVC should be at the earliest date
possible to have maximum impact before the Hong Kong
ministerial, which starts December 12. Per email exchanges
with the Department, it appears that Tuesday, November 22,
would be the only possible opportunity next week; otherwise,
Post recommends any day during the week of November 28.
Suggested start time is 9 a.m. (Washington).

6. Among the journalists and academics we would invite are:
Jonathan Katzenellenbogen, Senior international affairs
reporter, Business Day; Siseko Njobeni, trade and investment
reporter, Business Day; Jabulani Sikhankhane, deputy editor,
Business Report; Peter Fabricius, foreign editor, The Star;
Paul Richardson, specialist writer (trade), Sunday Times;
Andre Scheepers, specialist journalist, economics desk,
South African Broadcasting Corp.; Peter Draper, research
fellow - development through trade, The South African
Institute of International Affairs.

7. Mission Program Officer: Assistant Information Officer
Dan Biers; work tel (27) (12) 431-4217, home tel (27) (12)
346-8922, cell (27) (84) 950-0680; work fax (27) (12) 342-
2090; biersdl@state.gov. DVC Program telephone number is 27-
11-838-0249 for Johannesburg.

TEITELBAUM

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