Cablegate: Finland On Gi and Trips

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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHHE #0396 3010717
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280717Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5227
INFO RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1413

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000396

SIPDIS

USTR FOR TGARDE AND DSHACKLEFORD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EUN KIPR FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND ON GI AND TRIPS

REF: STATE 104985

1. Pol/Econoff delivered reftel points to Pekka Kosonen
Counsellor for the Department for External Economic Relations
at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Kosonen noted that
there is no unanimous opinion in the E.U. regarding GI and
TRIPS issues and that the divide is clearly cut between
northern and southern countries. Finland feels the need to
uphold its E.U. obligations thought it understands the
position of the U.S. Kosonen also pointed out that spirits
are not a large issue with Finland nationally as it is not a
significant export.

2. Kosonen said that, "There could be positive movement on
this issue," at the TRIPS council in Geneva on October 27.
He emphasized that the GOF believes that the U.S. and E.U.
could be more understanding of each other's position and not
make this into a bargaining issue that could potentially hold
up a successful outcome to the Doha negotiations.

ORECK

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