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 07BUENOSAIRES1212, GOA view of MERCOSUR Economic Priorities: Lesser

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. #07BUENOSAIRES1212.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07BUENOSAIRES1212 2007-06-21 19:22 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Buenos Aires
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1212/01 1721922
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211922Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8474
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE USD FAS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6259
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 6529
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0492
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 6125
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUN CARACAS 1307
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 3350
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 2262
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001212 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
PASS NSC FOR JOSE CARDENAS 
PASS FED BOARD OF GOVERNORS FOR PATRICE ROBITAILLE 
PASS USTR FOR SUE CRONIN AND MARY SULLIVAN 
TREASURY FOR ROSELLEN ALBANO 
USDOC FOR 4322/ITA/MAC/OLAC/PEACHER 
US SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD PREL AR
SUBJECT: GOA view of MERCOSUR Economic Priorities: Lesser 
Expectations 
 
Ref:  Buenos Aires 1127 
 
      Brasilia 1034 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Foreign Affairs Ministry (MFA) and Economy 
Ministry contacts are skeptical that MERCOSUR will make progress on 
its key economic priorities going forward: 1) revise the common 
external tariff (CET); 2) coordinate macroeconomic policy; 3) 
eliminate double collection of tariffs; 4) address asymmetries of 
smaller countries; 5) discuss how to handle non-tariff barriers; 6) 
manage enlargement, i.e. the applications of Venezuela and Bolivia 
for full membership.  Most of these items have essentially been on 
the MERCOSUR agenda since its founding.  MFA and Economy Ministry 
contacts predict that the addition of Venezuela to MERCOSUR will 
further complicate the already difficult progress toward more 
liberalized trade.  End Summary. 
 
---------------------- 
The Future of MERCOSUR 
---------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Ernesto De la Guardia (DLG -- PROTECT), Counselor in the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs' MERCOSUR office, described during 
recent meetings with Econoff GoA perspectives on the current 
MERCOSUR economic agenda.  He declined to predict the likelihood of 
any of these changes occurring, noting that in six years of working 
MERCOSUR issues, he has seen little forward progress.  Adrian Makuc 
(PROTECT), National Director of External Trade in the Ministry of 
Economy, also expressed skepticism recently, during separate 
meetings, about the probability of seeing significant change in 
MERCOSUR norms in the future.  They provided specific comments on 
MERCOSUR priorities going forward. 
 
3. (SBU) REVISE Common External Tariff (CET):  DLG attributed 
MERCOSUR's inability to achieve a single CET to the fact that 
phase-out periods for individual country CET exceptions were 
continuously being extended (Note:  MERCOSUR countries agreed to 
extend them again in 2006, through the end of 2008.  End Note).  He 
also blamed MERCOSUR's special regimens, which all members had 
agreed to, but only apply to individual members.  As an example, he 
pointed to Argentina's duty-free entry for many capital goods, 
instituted in January 2003 and extended last year through December 
2008.  DLG stated that GoA goals were to see lower duty rates - 
preferably zero - for capital, information and telecom goods. 
 
4. (SBU) COORDINATE MACROECONOMIC POLICIES:  DLG stated that the 
ultimate goal for MERCOSUR - in theory, at least - is to achieve the 
degree of coordination seen by the European Union, with a common 
monetary policy, a common tax policy, and free movement of labor and 
services.  He said that this could also include standardizing 
subsidies and incentives (a GoA priority area), but noted that 
Brazil - with its individual state tax regimes - is having the most 
difficulty in moving forward on this objective. 
 
5. (SBU) ELIMINATE DOUBLE TARIFF COLLECTION:  Currently, goods 
imported into one member country and later sent to another member 
(unless substantially transformed) face tariff collection on both 
entries.  This is an obvious contravention of the principle of the 
CET, but DLG noted that efforts to eliminate it are requiring a 
great deal of coordination among the members.  He said that there 
were ongoing efforts to harmonize the laws regulating each country's 
Customs agency, and predicted they could be completed by the end of 
2007.  If successful, implementation will be targeted in 2008, along 
with development of information sharing and a method for 
transferring collected duties.  The current plan is for this to be 
active by 2009, at which point double collection would end. 
 
6. (SBU) ADDRESS ASYMMETRIES:  Paraguay and Uruguay, as the smallest 
members overall of MERCOSUR, argue they have benefited less from 
MERCOSUR.  Given the less than liberalized nature of the trade bloc, 
investors most often locate in the larger countries (Argentina or 
Brazil), which gives them the benefits of intra-bloc commerce with 
 
the added security of a large domestic market, as a hedge against 
continued or increased protectionism by other members.  In 2006, in 
an effort to address limited investment in Paraguay and Uruguay, the 
four members allocated $100 million to a fund (called the FOCEM, the 
Fund for Structural Convergence) designed for improving 
infrastructure in the two small countries, mainly Paraguay. 
However, DLG commented that this amount was nearly insignificant, 
and Makuc noted that the fund had actually been agreed upon in 2003, 
though not funded until 2006. 
 
7. (SBU) ADDRESS NON-TARIFF BARRIERS:  DLG noted that Uruguay had 
presented a proposal and timetable to completely eliminate all 
non-tariff barriers (NTBs) by the end of 2008.  DLG said the GoA 
considered this proposal unacceptable, as it even called for the 
elimination of sanitary/phyto-sanitary (SPS) requirements, which the 
GoA considers essential.  He also noted that the Uruguayan proposal 
would preclude import licensing requirements, including automatic 
ones, which the GoA applies to "nearly everything."  Makuc observed 
that Brazil also frequently uses NTBs, such as applying new SPS 
rules on short notice and stepping up truck inspections at the 
border during peak shipping season. 
 
8. (SBU) HANDLE ENLARGEMENT:  DLG noted that Brazilian ratification 
of Venezuela's request for full membership would prove difficult, 
especially in light of increasing tensions between the two countries 
(see Ref B). (Not clear why difficult with Paraguay?)  Both DLG and 
Makuc noted that, nearly a year after signing an accession 
agreement, the GoV had yet to provide a timetable for adhering to 
MERCOSUR protocols.  They doubted one would be forthcoming.  Makuc 
also expressing the concern that economic reforms would take even 
more of a back seat to political objectives once Venezuela was able 
to participate in MERCOSUR votes.  DLG echoed this comment, giving 
as an example Venezuela's proposal for MERCOSUR to declare the U.S. 
a "terrorist government."  He wondered how many more such ideas they 
would present as a full member.  On Bolivia, DLG stated that several 
obstacles remain for the GoB to become a MERCOSUR membership while 
remaining in the CAN (Andean Community), including different tariff 
nomenclatures and different extra-bloc standards on IPR, services, 
and government procurement.  DLG was skeptical of the GoB's 
continuing trade negotiations with the EU as part of CAN, and said 
they appeared to be a ploy to get the U.S. to extend ATPDEA benefits 
to Bolivia. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Still At Square - Or Article - One 
---------------------------------- 
 
9. (SBU) DLG pointed out to Econoff that many of the objectives in 
the Treaty of Asuncion - the founding document of MERCOSUR, signed 
in 1991 - have never been fulfilled.  These include the "free 
circulation of goods, services and factors," the "elimination of 
customs duties and other non-tariff restrictions," the "adoption of 
a common [external] trade policy," and "macroeconomic and sectoral 
policy coordination" (which would include trade, agriculture, 
fiscal, monetary, foreign exchange and capital, services, customs, 
transportation, communication policies, and "others agreed upon"). 
DLG also provided Econoff with MERCOSUR decision (number 26/03), 
dated December 2003, which lays out a "work program" for the 
following three years.  Many of the goals, such as eliminating 
double tariff collection and harmonizing the Customs code, remain on 
the current agenda, unfulfilled.  Meanwhile, the remaining economic 
goals - apart from forming ad hoc groups on biotechnology and 
government procurement - are not only unfulfilled, but are now 
essentially off the agenda.  These include harmonizing extra-bloc 
antidumping and safeguard measures, creating a regional capital 
market, allowing free movement of labor, and facilitating business 
expansion within multiple MERCOSUR countries. 
 
10. (SBU) Makuc argues that two factors explain the limited progress 
on MERCOSUR's agenda.  One is that "Brazil is very clear in what it 
wants" from MERCOSUR:  a leadership role, which it will use for a 
 
larger role in world politics, such as its quest for a permanent 
seat on the United Nations Security Council.  He said that creating 
additional tension in the bloc would harm the perception of Brazil 
as a leader, so Brazil is not likely to act as an agent of change. 
The second is the reluctance of all members - including Argentina - 
to eliminate protectionist measures and integrate economically. 
According to Makuc, Brazil doesn't want "to bother the other 
MERCOSUR members," which would be the result of pressing for 
increased liberalization. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
11. (SBU) While the MERCOSUR priorities that DLG described would 
contribute to liberalizing trade among the members, the fact that 
they were all on the agenda in 2003, and many were even in the 
founding document of the bloc, is evidence of the lack of progress 
to date.  Also significant is that the current working agenda is 
considerably less ambitious than it was in 2003.  The GoA officials 
comments that Brazil seems content not to push for further reform 
indicates that the status quo will likely continue, especially 
considering Argentina's comfort level with managed trade mechanisms 
(as an example, see Ref A for background on GoA policies in the auto 
sector).  Given Venezuela's focus so far on political proposals, it 
is even more unlikely that the GoV's full inclusion would accelerate 
the economic integration process. 
 
12. (U) For more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified 
website at:  http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a> 
 
WAYNE