US embassy cable - 04BRATISLAVA602

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Identifier:	04BRATISLAVA602
Wikileaks:	View 04BRATISLAVA602 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Bratislava
Created:	2004-06-18 15:13:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags:	EAGR ETRD EU LO
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000602 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
STATE/EB/TPP/ATP 
STATE/EUR/ERA 
DEPT PASS TO USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, ETRD, EU, LO 
SUBJECT: EU RICE IMPORTS 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
REF: STATE 130430 
 
(SBU) ON JUNE 16, POST DELIVERED INFORMATION PER REFTEL TO JAN 
POCCI, DIRECTOR OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT OF THE AGRICULTURE, 
FOOD AND TRADE SECTION AT THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, AND 
    STANISLAV POLONSKY, TRADE COUNSELOR AT THE TRADE SECTION OF 
THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY. ALENA VITKOVSKA FROM POCCI'S 
DEPARTMENT, WHO REPRESENTS SLOVAKIA IN A WORKING GROUP AT 
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION THAT DEALS WITH TRADE-RELATED ISSUES 
IN AGRICULTURE TOLD ECONFSN OVER THE PHONE THAT SHE WAS NOT 
AWARE OF THE EC INITIATIVE TO REPLACE THE CURRENT MARGIN OF 
PREFERENCE SYSTEM FOR RICE WITH TARIFF RATE QUOTA. VITKOVSKA 
SAID SHE WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THE EC WANTED TO IMPOSE 
QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS AT THE SAME TIME WHEN WTO MEMBER 
STATES LAUNCHED NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT FURTHER TRADE 
LIBERALIZATION AS PART OF THE DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA. 
HOWEVER, THE GOS IS NOT IN A POSITION TO DEVELOP ITS OWN 
AGRICULTURE POLICY, BUT RATHER FOLLOWS THE COMMON POLICY OF 
THE COMMUNITY. (NOTE: SLOVAKIA'S IMPORTS OF RICE ARE 
NEGLIGIBLE.) 
 
WEISER 
 
NNNN