Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06RABAT453, FTA Implementation: First Bumps in the Road

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06RABAT453.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06RABAT453 2006-03-13 10:54 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Rabat
VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRB #0453/01 0721054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY ADA323C9 MSI0595-695)
R 131054Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3074
INFO RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 1381
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 0861
UNCLAS RABAT 000453 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D COPY ADDED SIGNATURE 
 
USTR FOR DOUG BELL 
STATE ALSO FOR NEA/MAG AND NEA/OFI 
STATE ALSO FOR EB/TPP 
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/ANESA - DAVID ROTH 
USDA FOR ITP - BOB MACKE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD EAGR BEXP KIPR KTIA MO
SUBJECT: FTA Implementation:  First Bumps in the Road 
 
 
(U)  This cable is sensitive but unclassified.  Please 
protect accordingly. 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  (SBU)  Summary:  During the first 75 days of FTA 
implementation Moroccan and U.S. businesses have experienced 
a few difficulties.  The most pressing and disturbing 
implementation difficulties have been in the area of 
agricultural trade, including an unfavorable rules of origin 
determination for U.S. almonds, a delay in Washington 
approval of a system for auctioning wheat tariff rate quotas 
(TRQs), and two sanitary/phyto-sanitary (SPS) issues related 
to apples and meat.  Moroccan textile and garment exporters 
report that U.S. customs officials at ports of entry are 
unaware of Moroccan FTA provisions.  Post believes a meeting 
of the FTA Agricultural Committee (including the SPS 
Subcommittee) and/or the Customs/Rules of Origin (ROO) 
committee should be convened in the near future to address 
these and other issues of mutual interest.  The U.S. 
intellectual property rights (IPR) industry, while thrilled 
with the FTA provisions, has begun campaigning for improved 
IPR enforcement. End Summary. 
 
----------- 
AGRICULTURE 
----------- 
 
2.  (SBU)  The most pressing and disturbing implementation 
difficulties have been in the area of agricultural trade. 
Three separate issues have arisen:  The distribution system 
for FTA wheat importation quotas has not been finalized; a 
shipment of U.S. almonds failed to meet rules of origin 
requirements because it was ostensibly not shipped 
"directly" from the United States to Morocco; and U.S. 
apple, beef, and poultry meat exporters are facing sanitary 
and phyto-sanitary challenges.  Post believes that these 
issues alone warrant convening a meeting of the FTA's 
Agricultural Committee soonest. 
 
Wheat Quota Auction on Hold 
--------------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU)  In April 2005, the GOM sent USTR a proposed 
procedure for auctioning wheat TRQs.  Moroccans officials 
are still awaiting approval from Washington before holding 
these auctions.  If no answer is received, no importer will 
have the right to import U.S. wheat under the negotiated TRQ 
during the March-May 2006 timeframe.  Emboffs understand 
that Washington is struggling with issues of marketing year 
definitions, but Agatt and Econoffs are worried that the 
first 700,000 ton wheat quota will be lost without quick 
resolution of this issue. 
 
Indirect Almonds 
---------------- 
 
4.  (SBU)  Two containers of Californian almonds 
(approximately 40 tons) arrived in Tangier on January 3, 
2006, just after the FTA came into effect.  The exporter, 
Campos Brothers, apparently intended to use the 50 ton 
annual quota for U.S. almonds.  Moroccan Customs officials 
note that the almonds arrived from in-bond storage in Spain. 
Bills of lading indicate shipment from Houston to Algeciras, 
Spain and no onward shipment to Morocco.  This, argue 
Moroccan customs officials, does not fulfill the "direct 
shipment" rule of origin contained in Article 5.1 of the 
agreement.  Furthermore, they argue, in-bond storage is not 
covered by the transshipment exceptions to Direct Shipment 
contained in Article 5.9.  Moroccan officials note that 5.1 
provisions regarding direct shipment were a U.S. demand 
during the FTA negotiations.  The Ambassador, EconCouns and 
Agatt have repeatedly raised the issue with Moroccan Customs 
officials, arguing Campos Brothers case.  The Moroccan chief 
of Customs told the Ambassador he would "look into" the 
matter.  Moroccan customs officials say a finding by U.S. 
Customs that the almonds fulfill FTA ROO would satisfy them 
enough to change their ruling.  Congressman Devin Nunes (R- 
CA), whose family farms almonds, has contacted the 
Ambassador regarding this case.  Emboffs believe that the 
direct shipment ROO interpretation precedent will prove 
important for a wide range of other U.S. agricultural 
exporters.  A meeting of U.S. and Moroccan customs officials 
under the aegis of an FTA Committee might prove invaluable 
to resolving an interpretative difference with potential 
long-term and wide ranging impacts that reach far beyond 
this initial shipment. 
 
Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary 
--------------------------- 
 
5.  (SBU)  Two SPS issues have arisen.  We believe that 
either the FTA Agricultural Market Access Committee or its 
SPS Subcommittee are the proper venues for resolving these 
two issues.  The first involves apples.  Moroccan 
Agricultural Ministry officials requested new certification 
requirements on January 25, 2006.  While USDA is working to 
meet these new requirements, we fear that due to the short 
shipping season for the TRQ - February 1 through May 31 - 
export opportunities will be lost in the interim.  The 
second SPS difficulty relates to sanitary health 
certification for beef and poultry.  Under the FTA, the 
United States is entitled to a four thousand ton TRQ for 
high quality beef and a similar quota for poultry.  While 
the major sanitary obstacles to trade were addressed during 
the FTA negotiations, other issues (such as BSE) have since 
arisen.  These require renewed efforts to finalize a model 
health certificate to facilitate trade. 
 
-------- 
TEXTILES 
-------- 
 
6.  (U)  Moroccan textile and garment exporters have 
reported that their U.S. importers are experiencing 
difficulties with U.S. Customs at ports of entry.  U.S. 
officials are apparently unaware of new FTA market access 
provisions.  One Moroccan exporter, SOMITEX, told Econoff 
that its importer had to pay tariffs on a product it thought 
was duty free under the FTA.  The MEPI-funded IESC Morocco 
Fast Track Trade Program reported similar difficulties 
experienced by its Moroccan SME customers.  U.S. garment 
importers (e.g. a Liz Claiborne executive) and Casablanca- 
based trade lawyers have complain about the complexity of 
the FTA's textile provisions.  A U.S. Customs official who 
is preparing instructions for dissemination to ports of 
entry admitted to IESC representatives that the Morocco 
FTA's textile provisions are the most complicated they have 
encountered.  These anecdotes reinforce accusations that 
U.S. Customs may not have distributed proper instructions to 
agents at ports of entry.  Post would appreciate any 
guidance on the status of information dissemination so that 
emboffs can brief Moroccan government officials and 
exporters.  Encouragingly, these negative experiences are 
limited to textile and garment exporters.  Other Moroccan 
manufactured goods exporters report no difficulties (in fact 
they have been impressed by U.S. customs preparedness). 
 
--- 
IPR 
--- 
 
7. (SBU)  While U.S. industry is largely thrilled with the 
exceptionally high levels of IPR protection contained in the 
FTA, representatives of U.S. companies have already begun 
complaining about inadequate enforcement, especially for 
pirated software, CDs and DVDs.  Microsoft (as local 
Business Software Alliance representative) has approached 
econoffs regarding Morocco's failure to enforce adequately 
laws governing software licensing.  Most egregiously, 
Microsoft claims (but has yet to provide a detailed 
quantitative report on the breadth or magnitude of the 
problem, and it refuses to "name names") that Moroccan 
ministries are using unlicensed products, in explicit 
contravention of FTA provisions.  Trademark holders 
(including Mars candies) have complained that court cases 
take too long and that without injunctions, infringers 
continue to operate with impunity during legal proceedings. 
Emboffs note that MEPI-funded USPTO technical assistance for 
patent and trademark protection, MEPI-funded CLDP training 
for copyright and ISP liability, and USAID's Business New 
Business Environment Program will address IPR enforcement 
issues. 
 
-------- 
COMMENT: 
-------- 
 
8.  Comment: Having worked hard for more than three years 
within the USG and with our GOM and private sector partners 
on both sides of the Atlantic not only to negotiate and 
implement the accord, but to raise its profile through 
persistent public diplomacy campaigns, Embassy Rabat wants 
to ensure that the FTA fulfills its promise.  As the GAO 
found in its report on monitoring and enforcing trade 
agreements (GAO 05-537), diplomatic posts and Washington 
trade agencies should redouble efforts to follow-through on 
our negotiated agreements.  Toward that end, we strongly 
recommend convening appropriate ad hoc experts meetings or 
meetings of appropriate FTA committees as set out in the FTA 
to address these initial difficulties and to reduce the 
probability of new issues arising in the future. 
BUSH