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 07SEOUL2634, FTA: TRADE MINISTER KIM DISCUSSES BEEF, RICE, AND

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. #07SEOUL2634.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07SEOUL2634 2007-08-31 01:06 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Seoul
VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #2634/01 2430106
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 310106Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6321
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3051
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 5754
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3186
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG PRIORITY 3318
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY 5733
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SEOUL 002634 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
PASS USTR FOR CUTLER, AUGEROT, AND ENRIGHT 
STATE FOR EAP/K AND EEB 
NSC FOR TONG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR PREL KS
SUBJECT: FTA:  TRADE MINISTER KIM DISCUSSES BEEF, RICE, AND 
AUTOS WITH CONGRESSMAN POMEROY 
 
1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: On August 29, newly appointed Trade 
Minister Kim Jong-hoon reviewed major KORUS-FTA trade issues 
with Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) and the Ambassador.  TM 
Kim said the FTA remained on track for submission to the 
National Assembly in early September -- and President Roh was 
strongly pushing for its passage before he departed office in 
February.  Stressing Congress was deeply engaged in 
addressing Iraq-related issues, Congressman Pomeroy indicated 
Congress is likely to defer FTA action for some time. 
However, he spotlighted U.S. beef, rice, and autos as key 
concerns that need to be addressed to foster a more receptive 
Congressional climate.  TM Kim responded that (1) the bone-in 
beef import protocol would likely be wrapped up in October, 
thereby permitting the full resumption of U.S. beef imports; 
(2) rice, although excluded from the FTA, could be revisited 
once the current WTO rice quota arrangement expired in 2014; 
and (3) the U.S. auto sector's objections to the ten-year 
phase-out of the light-truck tariff should be balanced 
against overall U.S. gains from the agreement, the ROKG's 
unprecedented steps to meet U.S. demands on auto tax and 
standards issues (including the dilution of emissions 
standards), and the need for U.S. companies to address their 
own internal competitiveness issues.  Pomeroy reiterated the 
importance of resolving the U.S. beef issue soon.  "Beef 
needs to move," Pomeroy said, not only to enhance Korea's 
reputation as a reliable trading partner but to bring down 
high prices for its consumers.  END SUMMARY. 
 
HIS THIRD WEEK IN OFFICE 
------------------------ 
2.  (SBU)  In his third week in the job, Trade Minister (and 
former FTA Chief Negotiator) Kim Jong-hoon welcomed 
Congressman Pomeroy's 8/29 visit just as the KORUS-FTA was 
facing its critical "last hurdle," the ratification phase. 
Referring to a Presidential meeting the day before, Kim said 
the ROKG would formally introduce the FTA to the National 
Assembly in early September.  He reaffirmed President Roh's 
strong commitment to seize every opportunity to pass the 
KORUS-FTA before the end of 2007 and, by the latest, before 
Roh left office in late February.  In response, Congressman 
Pomeroy said the USG is currently wrestling with critical 
Iraq-related issues that would likely defer Congressional 
action on the FTA for some time.  However, Congress also 
needed a strong ROKG signal that Korea will deal fairly on 
trade issues.  He spotlighted beef, rice and autos as major 
issues that need to be fully addressed to foster a more 
favorable climate for Congressional action. 
 
U.S.BEEF 
-------- 
3. (SBU)   Pomeroy turned first to recent U.S. packing-plant 
mistakes (a total of six boxes out of thousands) that had 
involved bones or bone fragments in their shipments to Korea. 
 He noted these mispacks had entailed the unfortunate 
consequence of slowing down the ROKG's consideration of a new 
bone-in import protocol and thus disappointed many American 
(including North Dakotan) farm families who relied on beef 
exports for their livelihood.  While acknowledging the 
mispacks should have consequences for the packing plants, 
Pomeroy stressed these mistakes were not life-threatening 
since the OIE had determined on May 22 that U.S. beef was 
safe.  As a result, it was critical for the ROKG not to allow 
these mistakes to defer fulfilling their commitment to revise 
the existing beef import protocol.  Failure to move soon to 
resume the flow of U.S. bone-in beef into Korea would be 
widely perceived by the American public and Congress as a 
sign that the ROKG would not abide my its trade commitments 
and internationally accepted standards. 
 
4.  (SBU)  TM Kim responded that the ROKG stood by President 
Roh's March commitment to President Bush to follow the OIE's 
rulings and negotiate a new protocol that would allow bone-in 
beef into Korea as soon as possible.  He indicated that the 
ROKG was currently canvassing consumer groups as required 
under a eight-step risk-assessment process and remained on 
track to begin negotiatons on a new import protocol after the 
new Agriculture Minister took office September 5.  Kim 
admitted the mispacks had fueled public concerns over the 
U.S. commitment to abide by the ROKG's import protocol, just 
 
as the U.S. public had its own perceptions of Korean 
sincerity.  However, Kim predicted the new bone-in import 
protocol would be in place by October and U.S. beef shipments 
flowing smoothly thereafter. 
 
RICE 
---- 
5.  (SBU)  Turning to rice, Pomeroy said this issue had been 
left out of the FTA.  This omission had disappointed major 
rice growers in California and worked against the perception 
that the KORUS-FTA was a balanced, comprehensive agreement. 
Kim replied that Korea's domestic political climate was 
highly protective of its small, rapidly aging farm population 
(only six percent of its total population, producing only 
three percent of GDP).  Widely viewed as deserving 
"affirmative action," rice farmers had attracted enough 
public support to make the issue untouchable at this time. 
However, Kim indicated that the ROKG would revisit the rice 
issue once the 2004 WTO arrangement on rice quotas expired in 
2014. 
 
AUTOS 
----- 
6.  (SBU)  Congressman Pomeroy pointed to the FTA's ten-year 
elimination of light-truck tariffs as being as problematic 
for U.S. constituencies as rice was for Korean ones.  He 
invited Kim's comment.  Kim replied that U.S. concerns were 
understandable in light of the current imbalance in the 
U.S.-Korea auto trade.  However, the tariff needed to be put 
into the broader context of the "unprecedented" ROKG 
commitments embodied in the agreement.  The ROKG had 
committed to lower its higher auto tariffs, to simplify its 
auto tax codes, and to amend its auto standards (including 
the dilution of emission standards that undercut Korea's 
clean environment goals).  The ROKG sold these measures to 
its own constituencies based on the premise that all auto 
trade would be encompassed under the FTA.  On balance, the 
measures created "a lot of leeway" for U.S. auto sales to 
Korea on a fair playing field.  Kim added that if Congress 
had any doubt about the ROKG's long-term commitment, it 
should take note of the FTA's snap-back provision.  This 
measure called for restoring previous U.S. tariff levels, in 
the event an accelerated dispute settlement panel found the 
ROKG had set up a new non-tariff trade barrier. 
 
7. (SBU)  In closing, Kim indicated U.S. auto sector concerns 
stemmed largely from their own internal competitiveness 
issues rather than any issues "caused by Korea."  He 
therefore hoped the U.S. auto sector's objections would be 
balanced against overall U.S. gains in the auto provisions 
and other parts of the FTA. 
 
CONCLUSION 
---------- 
8.  Congressman Pomeroy thanked TM Kim for his assessment and 
closed by underscoring the importance of fully resuming U.S. 
beef imports into Korea soon, so that U.S. agricultural 
interests could focus on the benefits of the FTA.  "Beef 
needs to move," he said, not only to enhance Korea's 
reputation as a reliable trading partner but to bring down 
high prices for its own consumers. 
 
9. (U)  Congressman Pomeroy reviewed this message. 
VERSHBOW