Cablegate: Ustr Tpp Discussions in New Zealand

VZCZCXRO2968
RR RUEHAG RUEHCHI RUEHDF RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHIK RUEHKSO RUEHLZ RUEHNAG
RUEHPB RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHWL #0430 3580150
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 230150Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5597
INFO RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 1820
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 5360
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0785
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION
RUEHSS/OECD POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 0271
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000430

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/ANP AND EEB, STATE PASS TO USTR, PACOM FOR
J01E/J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD PGOV PREL NZ
SUBJECT: USTR TPP DISCUSSIONS IN NEW ZEALAND

1. (SBU) Summary. On December 8 to 11, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade
Representative Douglas Bell visited Wellington and Auckland in
preparation for discussions, scheduled for March 2009, concerning
the expansion of the P-4 trade agreement to include New Zealand
(among other countries) or into the "Trans-Pacific Partnership" or
"TPP." The purpose of Bell's visit was to become more familiar with
issues and particular industries that are likely to be discussed at
TPP talks. Bell met with a wide range of government, business and
NGO officials who shared information and insights relating to
agriculture, intellectual property, pharmaceuticals and
biotechnology. End Summary.

Bell's Purpose to Gather Information, Not Negotiate
--------------------------------------------- ------

2. (SBU) Bell explained that his purpose in visiting New Zealand
was to gather information relating the issues that are likely to
become matters of negotiation and not to begin negotiations or even
establish "negotiating markers." Toward that end, his schedule in
New Zealand was a four-day program of meetings with government,
business and NGO officials. Bell was accompanied by staff from the
Wellington Embassy and from the Auckland Consulate. Bell received
briefings on such matters as agriculture, intellectual property,
pharmaceuticals and biotechnology in New Zealand -- all areas of
likely discussion when TPP negotiations begin.

Wellington Meetings
-------------------

3. (SBU) In Wellington, Bell's meetings with NZ government
officials including representatives from:
-- The NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
-- The NZ Ministry of Health;
-- The NZ Ministry of Economic Development;
-- The NZ Treasury;
-- The NZ Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry;
-- The NZ Food Safety Authority;
-- The NZ Environment Risk Management Authority;
-- The NZ Aid for International Development; and
-- Pharmac (the government entity that manages the national drug
subsidy program).
Bell also met with business and NGO representatives in order to
better understand NZ's pharmaceutical, agricultural and
horticultural industries.

Auckland Meetings
-----------------

4. (SBU) In Auckland, Bell met with members of the business
community, including representatives of the financial,
pharmaceutical, motion picture and intellectual property sectors.
Bell also met with the NZ-US Council and with the Business Council
for Sustainable Development (concerning NZ's efforts to pursue
economic growth in an environmentally-friendly way).
Next Steps
----------

5. (SBU) Embassy Wellington will be providing Bell with follow-up
reports on several subjects relating to his visit. Mark Sinclair,
NZ's lead TPP negotiator, plans to visit Washington, DC in February
2009 to continue preliminary discussions. Formal pluri-lateral TPP
discussions are scheduled to commence in March 2009.

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