CONFIDENTIAL
-
2
(D) CLAIMED THAT TEXTILE AND APPAREL INDUSTRIES ARE THE LARGEST
EMPLOYER OF LABOUR AND OF MINORITY GROUP LABOUR IN THE U.S.
WITH CONSEQUENT SOCIAL PROBLEMS SEMICOLON
(E) ARGUED THAT, BECAUSE OF HONG KONG'S BILATERAL AGREEMENTS' ON
THESE PRODUCTS 'NO NEW ISSUE OF PRINCIPLE IS INVOLVED ''.
THE U.S., HE CONCLUDED, IS THE ONLY MAJOR FREE WORLD MARKET
''STILL OPEN'' AND THERE WAS STRONG CONGRESSIONAL PRESSURE FOR
A SOLUTION BEFORE THE END OF THE PRESENT SESSION.
3.
MARTINOUTLINID THE GENERAL ELEMENTS OF PROPOSED AGREE MENT (SIMILAR TO OUR COTTON BILATERAL) AND SAID REVISIONS OF THE COTTON
BILATERAL WOULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS''
ON A NON-COTTON AGREEMENT. THERE WOULD BE NO CUT BACK FROM
1968 IMPORT FIGURES AND A RECOGNITION THAT TRADE HAD INCREASED SINCE THEN. (THERE WAS NO SUGGESTION OF ROLL IN BETWEEN COTTONS
AND NON-COTTONS OR OF ANY OTHER POSSIBLE LINK-UP WITH OUR PRESENT
COTTON AGREEMENT). HE SUGGESTED NEGOTIATIONS BE HELD AT OUR
CHOICE IN HONG KONG WASHINGTON OR GENEVA (AFTER THE C T C MEETING).
4. SORBY NOTED THE REQUEST FOR NEGOTIATIONS AND SIMPLY SAID
A RESPONSE WOULD BE FORTHCOMING IN DUE COURSE. HE THEN REITERATED
THE POINTS MADE TO STANS IN MAY, AND HONG KONG'S WILLINGNESS TO CONSULT ON A PRODUCT-BY-PRODUCT, FIBRE-BY-FIBRE BASIS,
EMPHASISING:-
(A) THAT RESTRAINT HAD BEEN CONCEDED ONLY ON EVIDENCE OF INJURY
SEMICOLON AND
/(B) THAT
CONFIDENTIAL
2