US embassy cable - 05PRAGUE1496

UNCLAS PRAGUE 001496 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, ETRD, EZ, WTRO 
SUBJECT: CZECH RESPONSE TO U.S. PROPOSAL FOR WTO 
AGRICULTURE NEGOTIATIONS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 190730 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY:  The Ministry of Industry and Trade received 
our demarche with genuine welcome and said that although they 
would have to consult with the Ministry of Agriculture, it 
would be in the interest of the Czech Republic to urge the EU 
to seize this timely opportunity to get beyond the 
agriculture debate in the WTO.  Ministry of Trade clearly 
believes the Czech Republic should be in favor of giving the 
European Commission greater flexibility in its negotiating 
mandate.  While the Ministry of Agriculture was not as 
forthcoming about what position the GOCR would take in 
Luxembourg, they asked numerous questions about the U.S. 
proposal, indicating at least some level of interest.  Deputy 
Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Tlapa is representing 
the Czech Republic at the October 18 GAERC meeting in 
Luxembourg.  END SUMMARY 
 
2. (SBU)  Econoffs met separately with Ministry of Industry 
and Trade (Department of the EU Multilateral Trade Policy and 
Common Trade Policy Director Ladislava Votavova) and the 
Ministry of Agriculture (Department of EU Trade Agreements 
Department Marta Tepla).  The Ministry of Industry and Trade 
received the reftel demarche with genuine interest and 
welcome.  Votavova explained that the Czech Republic did not 
have much at stake in the agriculture debate given its small 
agriculture sector, but that the GOCR was interested in a 
more "balanced approach" to the WTO debate, listing the 
GOCR's priorities as Non-Agriculture Market Access (NAMA), 
Services, Geographical Indicators, and Agriculture from most 
to least important. 
 
3. (SBU)  Per usual practice, the Ministry of Agriculture's 
Tepla deferred to the EU and said the Czech Republic would 
have "no input" into the process of formulating the EU 
position on this issue.  She added, however, that the Czech 
Republic did not sign the French petition urging EU trade 
commissioner Mandelson to hold off on making any concessions 
until he consults with national governments.  Tepla 
underscored that agricultural barriers in the Czech Republic 
were lower before joining the EU and they would not be 
threatened by a more open agricultural policy. 
 
4. (SBU) COMMENT:  While the Agriculture Ministry continues 
to resist taking any firm position within the EU, the 
Ministry of Industry and Trade clearly sees this as a timely 
opportunity to get beyond the agriculture debate in the WTO. 
With little at stake in terms of agriculture, we do not 
expect the Czech Republic to be overly active in this area, 
but also will not hinder granting the Commission greater 
negotiating flexibility. 
CABANISS