CONFIDENTIAL
FCO TELEGRAM NO.157 TO CANBERRA
-5-
AT PRESENT DUTIABLE, THOUGH AT A PREFERENTIAL RATE, FROM COMMONWEALTH
SOURCES. ON THESE ITEMS OUR OFFER OF DUTY-FREE ENTRY FOR IMPORTS
FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WILL CREATE A PREFERENCE AGAINST
DEVELOPED MEMBERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
IT SEEMS UNLIKELY HOWEVER THAT OUR OFFER ON THESE FEW ITEMS, IF MAINTAINED, WOULD HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON CANADA'S TRADE. YOU HAVE DISCRETION, TO MAKE THIS POINT IF YOU THINK THIS WOULD HELP
TO FORESTALL CRITICISM.
8. WE SHOULD BE GLAD TO HAVE THE VIEWS OF THE CANADIAN AUTHORITIES, YOU SHOULD POINT OUT THAT, ALTHOUGH WE ARE OF COURSE READY TO HEAR THEIR VIEWS AT ANY TIME, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE MOST CONVENIENT FOR THE NECESSARY CONSULTATIONS TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN OUR REPRESENTATIVES
IN THE OECD SPECIAL GROUP. THEY WILL THEN BE ABLE TO TAKE ACCOUNT
OF ANY MODIFICATIONS THAT MAY BE NECESSARY IN THE UK OFFER IN THE
LIGHT OF THE ATTITUDES OF OTHER DONORS. WE SHOULD ALSO BE GLAD
TO KNOW WHAT OFFERS THEY PROPOSE TO MAKE AND TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
OF DISCUSSING THEM.
TO DUBLIN ONLY.
6. YOU SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT WE THOUGHT IT RIGHT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 22 (3) OF THE ANGLO-IRISH FREE TRADE AGREEMENT, TO GIVE THE IRISH AUTHORITIES THIS NOTIFICATION OF OUR INTENTIONS. THE PREFERENCES WE PROPOSE TO OFFER TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ON PROCESSED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AFFECT ONLY A FEW ITEMS OF INTEREST TO THE IRISH REPUBLIC, AND IT SEEMS TO US UNLIKELY THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON IRISH TRADE. ON INDUSTRIAL ITEMS OUR OFFER OF DUTY-FREE ENTRY FOR IMPORTS FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WOULD SOMEWHAT REDUCE THE PRESENT PREFERENTIAL ADVANTAGE OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC IN THE UK MARKET. IT SHOULD HOWEVER BE NOTED
/THAT
CONFIDENTIAL