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II. FRENCH DISCRIMINATORY IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
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1. We can express general sympathy with Hong Kong, but
it would be premature and undesirable at this stage to give
any precise commitment about the line we would propose to
adopt or the level at which this matter should be
appropriately pursued in Brussels or in Paris. It is not
yet clear when the Community will be ready to discuss
formally with us the revision of Regulation 1025/70.
2. France maintains a fairly extensive list of import
quotas against third countries including some restrictions
solely against Hong Kong. The restrictions maintained
against GATT members are in general in default of her CATT
obligations. She is the only one of the Six applying
restrictions on a significant range of items against Hong
Kong.
3. In the GATT Joint Working Group on Import Restrictiorg
Hong Kong has said that her exports are severly limit by
France, especially in textiles where some non-cotton homme
which are not restricted by other countries are the subject
of French quotas; in other cases, general restrictions apply
with special severity to Hong Kong's trade. In the view of
Hong Kong, restrictions on these and other items are
unilateral quotas imposed by the French authorities without
authorisation under international rules.
4.
France has replied by referring to the problems of
French industry and holds out little hope of liberalisation.
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/She