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 07SINGAPORE1833, FTA IMPLEMENTATION ON DAUSTR BELL'S AGENDA

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. #07SINGAPORE1833.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07SINGAPORE1833 2007-10-03 01:47 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Singapore
VZCZCXRO4887
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHGP #1833/01 2760147
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 030147Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4146
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2633
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1972
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4093
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5692
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SINGAPORE 001833 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE PASS USTR FOR BWEISEL, DBELL, JMCHALE, MLINSCOTT, VESPINEL, 
AND AMATTICE 
COMMERCE FOR JBAKER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD EFIN EINV ECPS SENV KIPR ECON SN
SUBJECT: FTA IMPLEMENTATION ON DAUSTR BELL'S AGENDA 
 
REFS:  A) Singapore 996 B) Singapore 1134 C) Singapore 1167 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary:  In meetings to discuss implementation progress 
under the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Deputy 
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Doug Bell cited Singapore's 
failure to fulfill its telecom commitments as our top concern.  GOS 
officials agreed that additional flexibility is needed to resolve 
this longstanding issue.  On IPR protection, Singapore said it is 
still considering the merits of signing the Anti-Counterfeiting 
Trade Agreement (ACTA).  In response to a request to join a regional 
dialogue on illegal logging, GOS officials said they are "perplexed" 
about how Singapore can play a role as an intermediary transshipment 
point.  DAUSTR Bell also raised FTA-related issues related to the 
energy sector, financial services, and regional trade liberalization 
initiatives.  End summary. 
 
2.  (U) DAUSTR Bell focused on implementation of the FTA and 
regional trade issues during his initial visit to Singapore 
September 11-12.  In addition to his discussions with GOS officials 
from the Ministry for Trade and Industry (MTI), the Ministry for 
Environment and Water Resources (MEWR), the Infocomm Development 
Authority (IDA), and the Energy Market Authority (EMA), he also met 
with Verizon Business, Island Power (Intergen), Citibank, Hewlett 
Packard, United Parcel Service, the Singapore Association of 
Pharmaceutical Industries (SAPI), the American Chamber of Commerce, 
and representatives from intellectual property business 
associations.  DAUSTR Bell's discussions on ASEAN are reported 
septel. 
 
Telecom - Tandem Access 
----------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU) DAUSTR Bell told IDA Acting Director (International) 
Hanafiah Muhammed (and MTI Director for Trade Lionel Yeo separately) 
that Singapore's failure to fulfill its telecom commitments remains 
our top FTA implementation concern.  He underscored that offering 
high-speed tandem access (i.e., access to dominant carrier SingTel's 
leased lines at economically efficient points of aggregation) is 
consistent with Singapore's FTA obligations; tandem access stands 
out as the best solution to ensure that telecom providers receive 
fair and equitable treatment.  DAUSTR Bell emphasized that the USG 
takes little comfort in GOS officials' recent statements that the 
access issue will "go away" after Singapore deploys its "Next 
Generation" and "Intelligent Nation 2015" (iN2015) broadband and 
infocomm networks.  Singapore still needs to meet its current FTA 
obligations and the government's track record on telecom to date 
casts doubt on how effectively it will address access issues in the 
future, he said.  Director Muhd asserted that Singapore's obligation 
under the FTA is to provide "reasonable" but not tandem access.  He 
defined "reasonable" as encompassing areas such as regulated rates 
and groomed circuits.  DAUSTR Bell countered that this obligation 
also implied that it make available the same type of access for all 
telecom players.  Singapore providers in the United States, for 
example, enjoy a tandem access option. 
 
Telecom - Local Exchange Closures 
--------------------------------- 
 
4.  (SBU) DAUSTR Bell expressed his appreciation for Singapore's 
recent decision to extend the notification period for SingTel to 
inform IDA about planned local exchange closures.  But he questioned 
why SingTel continues to remain silent on its planned consolidation, 
first announced in June 2006 (ref B).  Director Muhammed said that 
SingTel has not yet communicated its intentions to IDA.  He wondered 
whether, as a regulator, IDA might be able to require SingTel to 
provide a guarantee that it would not close a certain local exchange 
as a way to ensure some certainty of access and availability to 
other telecom providers.  DAUSTR Bell welcomed further discussions 
of this kind, noting that it is important for both sides to seek 
solutions that conform to all FTA commitments. 
 
Telecom - Multilateral Cooperation 
---------------------------------- 
 
5.  (SBU) Director Muhammed asked for USTR's advice on how best to 
use platforms like the ASEAN Telecom, Telecom Council, and IT annual 
meetings to improve regional telecom regulators' knowledge of trade 
rules and regulations.  DAUSTR Bell said he would follow up with a 
response in the next several weeks.  Muhammed cautioned that some 
 
SINGAPORE 00001833  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
resistance to the USG's efforts under the ASEAN-U.S. Enhanced 
Partnership exists, especially among Malaysia, Thailand, and 
Vietnam.  He suggested that the USG seek more input from ASEAN 
members before developing a full proposal.  Singapore can play a 
role in encouraging other countries to support such initiatives, he 
offered. 
 
Information Technology Agreement 
-------------------------------- 
 
6.  (SBU) DAUSTR Bell expressed concern that the European Union is 
unwilling to back down from its plan to pursue changes in the 
Information Technology Agreement (ITA).  He noted that the EU 
proposal would result in tariff increases from zero to fourteen 
percent -- affecting approximately US$200 million of Singapore's 
exports to the EU.  He said that USTR is likely to ask for WTO 
consultations and hopes that Singapore will join the United States 
in this process.  MTI Senior Assistant Director (Trade) Alpana Roy 
noted that MTI Minister LIM Hng Kiang recently told USTR Schwab that 
Singapore is willing to engage the EU on this issue. 
 
Intellectual Property 
--------------------- 
 
7.  (SBU) DAUSTR Bell urged the GOS to proceed with a planned 
digital video conference to discuss intellectual property rights 
(IPR) issues raised during the FTA review in May, in particular our 
desire for Singapore to join the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement 
(ACTA) and to clarify Singapore's law governing Internet 
rebroadcasts (i.e., simulcasts).  Senior Assistant Director Roy said 
that the Ministry of Law is still evaluating the ACTA proposal; 
MinLaw was particularly interested in receiving a read-out of the 
USG's recent ACTA discussions with Japan. 
 
Regional Illegal Logging Initiative 
----------------------------------- 
 
8.  (SBU) DAUSTR Bell asked Singapore to join a regional dialogue on 
illegal logging and associated trade and delivered a nonpaper 
formalizing this request.  Building on the bilateral initiative 
between the United States and Indonesia, as well as discussions with 
Malaysia, the Philippines, and China, the USG believes that a 
multilateral approach will be more effective to combat illegal 
logging, he said.  Director Yeo noted that Singapore is concerned 
about illegal logging, but more from an environmental protection 
perspective.  Singapore feels "powerless" to control the trade in 
timber since this is an issue that must be addressed at points of 
origin and points of demand, not at an intermediary port, he 
claimed.  Singapore will enforce its laws, but it remains 
"perplexed" about how it can play a role in this process.  DAUSTR 
Bell said that it is important that countries involved at all 
aspects of the timber trade come together to discuss their 
respective competencies and to exchange ideas about possible 
solutions.  Director Yeo did not make any commitments, but said MTI 
will consider the regional dialogue proposal. 
 
Energy - Island Power 
--------------------- 
 
9.  (SBU) DAUSTR Bell expressed his hope that the Energy Market 
Authority (EMA) can move quickly to clear the remaining obstacles 
that continue to prevent Island Power -- a subsidiary of Intergen, a 
U.S. company -- from bringing its multimillion dollar power 
generation investment to fruition.  An EMA representative said that, 
although Parliament had passed the Gas Act in May, the approval 
process for Island Power must proceed slowly to allow sufficient 
time for the new legislation to be implemented (ref C). 
 
Credit Cards and ATMs 
--------------------- 
 
10.  (SBU) DAUSTR Bell told Director Yeo that USTR has received 
inquiries from industry about ATM access for individuals using 
credit cards issued locally by foreign banks.  Although the issue 
might not raise FTA-specific questions, he suggested that the GOS 
consider additional outreach to address consumer and provider 
uncertainties.  The USG also may want to consider a more formal 
Financial Services Committee process facilitated by Treasury to 
discuss a broad range of technical sectoral issues and follow up on 
 
SINGAPORE 00001833  003 OF 003 
 
 
financial services consultations agreed to in the FTA.  Director Yeo 
said he would convey industry's concerns to Monetary Authority of 
Singapore officials and provide an appropriate point of contact. 
 
Regional FTA Initiatives 
------------------------- 
 
11.  (SBU) DAUSTR Bell raised the possibility of holding exploratory 
talks in Washington in October on regional liberalization 
initiatives and possible U.S. involvement in the P-4 Agreement 
between Singapore, Brunei, New Zealand, and Chile.  Director Yeo 
said that Singapore welcomes such discussions. 
 
12.  (U) DAUSTR Bell cleared this message. 
 
SHIELDS