Cablegate: Costa Rica Expresses "No Differences" On Wto

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSJ #0930 3032209
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 302209Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1364

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000930

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/MTA:APRATTIPATI
PLEASE PASS TO USTR:BNORTON AND COMMERCE:DPAREKH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD PREL PGOV CS
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA EXPRESSES "NO DIFFERENCES" ON WTO
REMANUFACTURING TEXT

REF: STATE 107233

1. Econoff and an official from the Japanese Embassy delivered
reftel points to officials of the Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign
Trade (COMEX) on October 30. Though the Costa Ricans did not commit
to co-sponsor the negotiated text, COMEX officials had "no
differences" with the U.S.-Japan-Switzerland proposal. In Costa
Rica, manufactured and remanufactured goods receive the same market
access: there are no differences. The GOCR does require labeling
on goods which distinguishes manufactured from remanufactured goods
(per the Consumer Protection Law, number 7472).

2. COMEX officials Dr. Francisco Monge Arino, COMEX's Director of
Trade Monitoring, and Indiana Trejos, COMEX Advisor, raised one
issue with the U.S.-Japanese demarche team. They requested the need
for a clear distinction between used goods and remanufactured goods.
Though admittedly not as relevant with "hard" goods, the concern
focused on donated used goods, particularly clothing that may have
been exposed to disease such as dengue fever. Though not mentioned
by Monge or Trejos, this concern could be relevant with "hard" goods
in the medical field. In this area, the distinction between used
and remanufactured can denote a significant difference in safety.

3. Advisor Trejos will travel to Geneva for the upcoming week and
will consult with COMEX's WTO representative in Geneva. Econoff
invited Trejos to attend the November 4 workshop on remanufactured
goods. Trejos did not indicate whether she would attend but
acknowledged the invitation with interest. Econoff gave COMEX a
non-paper of the talking points and anticipates support from the
GOCR.

BIRDSALL

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