US embassy cable - 03ABUDHABI2678

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UAE INTERESTED IN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

Identifier: 03ABUDHABI2678
Wikileaks: View 03ABUDHABI2678 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Abu Dhabi
Created: 2003-06-07 09:58:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags: ECON ETRD EFIN USTR PREL TC
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
null
Diana T Fritz  03/21/2007 05:45:26 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

Cable 
Text:                                                                      
                                                                           
      
UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM                                            June 07, 2003


To:       No Action Addressee                                    

Action:   Unknown                                                

From:     AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 2678 - ROUTINE)         

TAGS:     ECON, ETRD, EFIN, PREL                                 

Captions: None                                                   

Subject:  UAE INTERESTED IN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT                 

Ref:      None                                                   
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS        ABU DHABI 02678

SIPDIS
CXABU:
    ACTION: ECON 
    INFO:   POL P/M DCM AMB 
Laser1:
    INFO:   FCS 

DISSEMINATION: ECON
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB: MMWAHBA
DRAFTED: ECON: GARANA
CLEARED: A/DCM: TEWILLIAMS

VZCZCADI426
RR RUEHC RUEHEE RUEHDI RUCPDOC RUEHTU
DE RUEHAD #2678 1580958
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070958Z JUN 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0258
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHDI/AMCONSUL DUBAI 3172
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 0522
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002678 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA AND EB 
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR FOR JBUNTIN 
AMEMBASSY TUNIS HOLD FOR FSI: OLIVER JOHN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON, ETRD, EFIN, USTR, PREL, TC 
SUBJECT: UAE INTERESTED IN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT 
 
 
1. (SBU) Nasser Sweidan, office director for de facto 
Finance Minister Dr. Khirbash, called A/DCM June 5 to say 
that he was drafting a letter from MFA Minstate Hamdan bin 
Zayid to Secretaries Powell and Evans outlining the UAEG's 
strong interest in pursuing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 
with the United States.  A/DCM thanked Sweidan for the 
heads-up. 
 
2.  (SBU)  Comment:   The UAE leadership is excited about 
the President's South Carolina speech, particularly the 
Middle East Free Trade Agreement concept.  Both de facto 
Defense Minister Shaykh Muhammad bin Zayid and MFA Minstate 
Hamdan bin Zayid have called the Ambassador to say the UAE 
would like to pursue this actively and looks to us for 
guidance on next steps.  Dubai Ports Authority Chairman 
Sultan bin Sulayem was also very positive during recent 
meetings in Washington.  We would appreciate guidance from 
the Department on how we may respond to the UAE's 
enthusiasm (would a TIFA be the first step?), and what the 
potential hurdles might be (national treatment of foreign 
investors, set-asides like agency laws?).  End Comment. 
WAHBA 

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