US embassy cable - 05MADRID455

UNCLAS MADRID 000455 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EB/TPP/MTA/MST (JALLEN) 
DEPT PASS USTR (SBOVIN) 
DEPT PASS USDOC (AMILLER AND EDUNN) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, SP, WTO, Trade Issues 
SUBJECT: WTO NON-AGRICULTURAL MARKET ACCESS NEGOTIATING 
FRAMEWORK OUTREACH ON SECTORAL INITIATIVES 
 
REF: STATE 17096 
 
1.EconOff met on 2/4/05 with Arancha Herran Lafoz, an 
international relations staff person for the Spanish 
Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), to discuss 
sectoral initiatives per reftel request.  Herran explained 
that CEOE is a national umbrella organization representing 
many different interests.  Moreover, CEOE coordinates its 
international trade positions with the European Union of 
Businesses (UNICE) in Brussels.  She said that CEOE's basic 
position was that before sectoral initiatives could be 
considered, Doha round trading partners should agree upon 
non-lineal tariff cuts from applied, not bound, rates for a 
maximum 15% rate.  Herran would not be drawn into a 
discussion into what sectoral initiatives CEOE might support, 
although she noted that in Cancun, CEOE supported a sectoral 
textiles/footwear initiative, as long as it was based upon 
reciprocity.  In March, CEOE will survey its members 
regarding what sectors might be appropriate for sectoral 
intiatives.  Herran promised to share the results of this 
survey as soon as it was completed. 
 
2. CONTACT INFORMATION 
 
Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations 
Arancha Herran Lafoz (Department of International Relations) 
Diego de Leon, 50 28006 Madrid 
Spain 
Tel: 34 91 566 35 47 
Fax: 91 564 01 35 
E-mail: aherran@ceoe.es 
 
MANZANARES