Cablegate: Demarche Delivered: Swiss 19 Proposal for Costa

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSJ #1801 2752113
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 022113Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8976

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 001801

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USTR WASHINGTON DC - CMORROW,
USTR GENEVA - LMOLNAR,
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC - JJANICKE,
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC - EDUNN,
STATE EBB/TPP/MTA/MS - ASCHEIBE,
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC - WSCHALL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CS ETRD
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SWISS 19 PROPOSAL FOR COSTA
RICA

REF: STATE 131146

1. Econoffs met with officials of the Costa Rican Ministry
of Foreign Trade (COMEX) on September 25 to discuss the USG
position contained in reftel targeting Middle Ground
countries. COMEX officials affirmed the GOCR's allegiance to
the Middle Ground group as part of the Non-Agricultural
Market Access (NAMA) negotiations.

2. However, COMEX argued that it could not accept a tariff
coefficient lower than 22. COMEX justified its position by
stating that its status as a lesser-developed country within
WTO and its market size required it to be prudent with any
downward adjustment of tariff rates. COMEX added that it
needs to consider tariffs for agriculture goods when
reviewing its tariffs on non-agriculture goods so as to
maintain an overall balanced regime of tariffs.
LANGDALE

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