The Bouch
pa
050793A2:121/2
1613
Haß 091/3
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for Whiting, MICH
Trake /environment.
NASTA
RECE
VEN INDEGISTRY
Export
Crelive
19 JUL 1993
Trata quwwat
DESK
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
NOTE FOR FILE
PAOECO
55
"
HMA'S LUNCH WITH MR GERHARD ABEL, DIRECTOR TRADE 1 JULY
Introduction
1.
Mr
HMA hosted a "troika" lunch for Gerhard Abel, Director Trade, on 1 July. Also invited were Ms Janet West, Head of Export Credit Division, and Mr Tony Kleitz, Head of the New Issues Division. Thomas and I attended.
Trade/Environment
2.
Abel claimed that he was pleased with the 30 June meeting with and Industry Representatives, which he thought a worthwhile exchange of substantive issues. [Comment: if Abel was serious (and I fear he was) he must be the only one who was satisfied with what was a rather unsatisfactory and unsubstantive meeting.] He acknowledged that the NGO's were impatient for more rapid progress; but he thought that they were "satisfied" to be participating in the process. [Comment: this latter is a half-truth in that they do wish to be involved but are not
not satisfied with their present level of involvement.] They needed to understand that progress was
necessarily measured in the face of complex issues.
NAFTA
3. On the 30 June Federal Court ruling on NAFTA, Abel thought an appeal "inevitable". Kleitz was reasonable confident that it would succeed on the grounds that the NAFTA, as a treaty, took precedence over US law. [Comment: I am not convinced that Kleitz is right.]
4.
If the NAFTA itself failed it would have serious implications for US/Mexico relations generally. But success was far from assured given that the administration had promised too much of the side agreements and had failed to lobby properly on the Hill.
Uruguay Round
5.
Abel was pessimistic. [Comment: something of a reversal from his position immediately after 2/3 June OECD Ministerial.] The December deadline had always been a high risk, if necessary, strategy. But now the momentum which had been apparent during the OECD Ministerial was dissipating rapidly and another kickstart was badly needed form the Tokyo Summit. Whether this would be forthcoming in the face of the French opposition (thinly disguised as environment and social concerns) and Japanese distraction was in doubt. Nor could the US be relied upon to play its traditional leadership role in the face of tough domestic lobbies.
Hong Kong/Trade Committee
X
/status
6. Abel did not doubt Hong Kong's credentials vis a vis observer