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5. U.S. IMPORT FIGURES INDICATE THAT IN THE YEAR ENDING 30TH
SEPTEMBER 1968 TOTAL IMPORTS ROSE BY ABOUT 70 PER CENT OVER 1967
SEMICOLON AND HONG KONG'S SHARE OF IMPORTS DECREASED BY 13 TO 125
PER CENT OF THE TOTAL. TAIWAN AND KOREA REGISTERED CONSIDERABLE
GAINS, HENCE PRESUMABLY U.S. SENSITIVITY.
(C) CULOTTES.
6. EXPORTS WERE RECORDED SEPARATELY ONLY IN 1967/68 WHEN 90 PER CENT
OF SHIPMENTS WERE MADE IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH, PRESUMABLY
FOR SUMMER SALE. ON THAT PATTERN LITTLE TRADE WOULD BE ANTICIPATED
IN EXCESS OF THAT ALREADY AUTHORISED C375,363 LBS.) AND PENDING
(97,618 LBS).
(D) TIMING.
تم
7. IF CONSULTATIONS ARE REQUESTED THERE WOULD BE MUCH TACTICAL
MERIT IN POSTPONING THEM UNTIL AFTER YOUR SCHEDULED VISIT. BUT
FROM TRADE POINT OF VIEW THIS WOULD BE DISRUPTIVE IN REGARD TO
DRESS GLOVES AND CULOTTES IN PARTICULAR SEMICOLON THE FORMER FOR
REASONS GIVEN IN MY TELEGRAM 113 AND THE LATTER BECAUSE OF THE
SEASONAL NATURE OF THE TRADE AND THE NEED TO ORDER, PRINT,
AND MAKE UP FABRIC FOR SHIPMENT BEFORE MARCH. SIGNIFICANTLY
EXPORTERS OF CULOTTES HAVE APPLIED FOR EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS
OF ONLY THREE MONTHS DURATION, EMPHASISING NEED FOR SHIPMENT EARLY
IN 1969.
CUT
8. COULD YOU MAKE THIS POINT NOW IN THE HOPE THEY MIGHT DECIDE
NOT TO REQUEST CONSULTATIONS ON CULOTTES? ASSUMING FAVOURABLE
RESPONSE FORTHCOMING ON OUTSTANDING DRESS GLOVES APPLICATIONS
(PARAGRAPH 6 OF YOUR 90), YOU COULD PERHAPS RETURN TO THIS
ASPECT IF AND WHEN CONSULTATIONS ARE REQUESTED.
FCO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY WASHINGTON.
SIR D. TRENCH
/REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION
H.K.D.
F. EAST. D.
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