SECRET
IMMEDIATE
+
(COMMODS)
CYPHER/CATA
FM F C O 291258Z
SECRET.
NEUTRAL.
DESKBY 351000Z
TO IMMEDIATE BRIDGETOWN TELEGRAM NUMBER 301 OF 29 NOVEMBER
AND TO CERTAIN POSTS.
COTTON TEXTILES:
FOLLOWING IS DRAFT OF AIDE MEMOIRE REFERRRED TO IN FCO TELNO
1687 TO NEW DELHI.
YOU SHOULD TAKE NO, REPEAT NO, ACTION PENDING RECEIPT OF
INSTRUCTIONS.
2. AS THE
GOVERNMENT WILL BE AWARE, THE BRITISH
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IN JULY 1969 THAT ON 1 JANUARY 1972
A TARIFF WOULD BE INTRODUCED FOR COTTON TEXTILES IMPORTED FROM THE COMMONWEALTH PREFERENCE AREA. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION OF ENDING AT THE SAME TIME THE EXISTING GENERAL QUOTA SYSTEM WHICH RESTRICTS IMPORTS OF COTTON YARN AND WOVEN COTTON TEXTILES FROM INDIA, HONG KONG AND THE COMMON- WEALTH AND NON-COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES INCLUDED IN THE 'GLOBAL' SCHEME: AND OF CONFINING THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF QUOTAS AFTER 1 JANUARY 1972 TO SPECIFIC CASES WHERE TOTAL IMPORTS ROSE ABOVE PRESENT LEVELS AND CAUSED DISRUPTION TO THE MARKET FOR THE PARTICULAR PRODUCTS CONCERNED. IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT THESE DECISIONS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO ANY MODIFICATION REQUIRED IF WE JOINED THE EEC.
3. IT REMAINS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO INTRODUCE THE NEW TARIFF WHICH HAS NOW BEEN LAID BEFORE PARLIAMENT FOR
APPROVAL.
SECRET
*
/4. THEY HAVE