Cablegate: Goj Officials Agree Civil Aircraft Sales Must Be

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PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2887 2902258
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 162258Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7990
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 1515
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2212
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 6292
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 0416
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 2769
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 4162
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 0989
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS TOKYO 002887

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR EAP/J AND EEB/CBA
STATE PASS USTR FOR AUSTR WENDY CUTLER AND MICHAEL BEEMAN
DOT FOR GRETCH
USDOC FOR 3132/USFCS/ADESSARRAN AND ADVOCACY CENTER/LARRY
NAVIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ETRD ECON PREL JP
SUBJECT: GOJ OFFICIALS AGREE CIVIL AIRCRAFT SALES MUST BE
MADE ON A COMMERCIAL BASIS

REF: TOKYO 2056

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. CONTAINS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.

1. (SBU) Senior MOFA and METI officials said the GOJ agrees
ANA should decide between the Airbus A-380 and Boeing,s
747-8 on the basis of commercial considerations. METI and
MOFA officials confirmed Airbus and the French government has
been weighing in to support Airbus in the potential RFP.
EMIN raised concerns about the EU's advocacy efforts during
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler's October
13-14 meetings with MOFA Director General for Economic
Affairs Yoichi Otabe and METI Director General for Trade
Policy Hideichi Okada. Okada noted recent media reports that
claim ANA will purchase the Airbus A-380 are inaccurate and
stated ANA's decision should remain a private one. Otabe
said he had earlier agreed to convey the French government's
request on Airbus' behalf to the Prime Minister's Office, but
had also told them the GOJ is unable to provide any further
assistance.

2. (SBU) Boeing Japan President Nicole Piasecki told EMIN
October 15 MOFA officials had telephoned her a few weeks ago
to complain the EU was "ratcheting up the pressure" and
making "threats" that ANA must buy A-380 aircraft. She said
Boeing had raised the assertion of EU pressure with ANA, but
airline executives said the company is not under pressure
from the EU to purchase Airbus planes; She added ANA was
unlikely to say otherwise for commercial reasons. Piasecki
conceded Boeing might not be able to win the ANA deal on
price, but is working on its media message to highlight the
energy savings, environmental aspects, and other pluses for
the 747-8. ANA is expected to make a decision the third week
of November.
SCHIEFFER

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