Cablegate: Thais Open to Wto Environmental Goods Proposal with Some

VZCZCXYZ0012
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #0486 0450919
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140919Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1821
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1966

UNCLAS BANGKOK 000486

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE PASS USTR FOR JENNIFER PRESCOTT
GENEVA FOR USTR RACHEL SHUB

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: SENV ETRD ECON TH

SUBJECT: THAIS OPEN TO WTO ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS PROPOSAL WITH SOME
RESERVATIONS

REF: STATE 11974

1. Econoff spoke to Ms. Pimchanok Vonkhorporn, Director of
Thailand's Department of Trade Negotiations, and delivered talking
points regarding the negotiations on Environmental Goods and
Services (EGS) as instructed in reftel. Ms. Pimchanok said she
could only give her views on the goods portion of the proposal as
she had not had the opportunity to discuss with her services staff.
She said that overall Thailand was open to considering the U.S.-EC
proposal but had two reservations on the goods portion.

2. Pimchanok said her Department is concerned that environmental
goods are defined at the six-digit HTS level, which Pimchanok
considered to be too broad. She also questioned what criteria were
used to define an environmental good and noted that many goods
defined as environmental could have other uses unrelated to any
environmental goal. Although Pimchanok said she could not comment
on the environmental services portion, she questioned how the U.S.
plans to incorporate services with goods in the CTESS negotiations,
noting that services are already covered under a separate GATT
council.

3. Pimchanok said that the Thai delegation in Geneva would be
handling the CTESS negotiations, and that while they would be open
to considering the U.S.-EC position, they would not be taking a
leadership role in the negotiations. Pimchanok mentioned that
Thailand is considering the EGS issue in APEC and would be
coordinating its position between that forum and Geneva.
JOHN

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