0003230
G.F. 323
Appn. 1
CONFIDENTIAL
CR/EIC 111/5/11
Instructions to A.W. and
Brief for consultations with
U.S. State Department Officials
regarding possible improvements
in the U.S./H.K. Bilateral Agreement
Background for Consultations
At its meeting on 15th to 17th December, 1969 the
GATT Cotton Textiles Committee agreed that
#1
In the course of bilateral consultations or
negotiations which should be held in the near future,
importing countries should, in the light of the
concepts, principles and objectives of the Long-Term
Arrangement, endeavour to offer increased export
opportunities and more flexible conditions for the
operation of bilateral arrangements. Further, they
should endeavour, in the framework of these consul-
tations, to give specific indications concerning the
treatment which they would grant to exporting
countries including new exporting countries, during
any period of extension.
These consultations or negotiations would imply
no commitment as to the future of the Long-Term
Arrangement. However, they should be based on the
hypothesis of an extension of the Long-Term Agreement
in its present form for a period of three years."
The full text of the resolution is at Appendix 1.
The wording of the C.T.C. document states that such
consultations would "imply no commitment as to the future of
the Long-Term Arrangement"; it also puts the onus on importing
countries to "offer" and "give specific indications" of improve-
ments they would concede during any period of extension.
There
CONFIDENTIAL
/is no