Cablegate: Trade Agreement Compliance and Monitoring
VZCZCXYZ0036
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHDS #2594 2680609
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 250609Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2592
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002594
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EM/TPP/MTA EKOCH, AND PASS USTR FOR HIRSH
COMMERCE FOR TCCC/4110 MICHAEL ROLLIN
USDA FOR ITP/FAS/BERTSCH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON ETRD
SUBJECT: TRADE AGREEMENT COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING
REF: STATE 152063
1. TRADE AGREEMENT COMPLIANCE IS NOT CURRENTLY AN ISSUE WITH
ETHIOPIA, SINCE IT IS NEITHER A MEMBER OF THE WTO NOR A PARTY
TO ANY OTHER TRADE AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES. POST IS
ACTIVE,HOWEVER, IN PROMOTING ETHIOPIA'S USE OF AGOA
OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE ITS EXPORTS, AS WELL AS MONITORING
PROGRESS AND GOE AGOA ELIGIBILITY.
2.EMBASSY, AS A STRONG ADVOCATE OF AMERICAN BUSINESS,
CONTINUOUSLY MONITORS TRADE BARRIERS AND REPORTS ON THEM AS
APPROPRIATE. COMMERICIAL COMPLAINTS AND INQUIRIES ARE
HANDLED BY THE POLITICAL ECONOMIC SECTION, WHICH INCLUDES ONE
FULL TIME ECONOMIC OFFICER AND AN FSN COMMERCIAL ASSISTANT.
POST'S TRADE TEAM ALSO INCLUDES USAID PERSONNEL AND
CONTRACTORS WHO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTENCE TO THE GOE IN
PEREPARING FOR WTO ACCESSION AS WELL AS ANOTHER PROJECT TEAM
ENGAGED IN ENHANCING ETHIOPIA'S COMPETITIVENESS IN
AGROBUSINESS EXPORTS.
3.CONTACT PERSON AT POST IS POLITICAL ECONOMIC COUNSELOR
KEVIN SULLIVAN.
HUDDLESTON