R
CONFIDENTIAL
Draft telegram to UKREP Brussels, copied to EEC capitals and UKMIS Geneva; also copied confidentially to Governor Hong Kong
13
Kondy
ARKG/6
EEC textile policy. Meetings in Brussels on 30 and 31 January and 2 February.
山
1 It appears from your tel no and Gwinnell's oral report that the UK was virtually isolated at the meeting on 22 January which discussed negotiation of restraints on non-cottons from Hong Kong. The Commission and our partners still favour a comprehensive rather than a selective approach, and although Friederichs for Germany paid tribute that we believe was more than lipservice to liberal principles, our arguments carried virtually no weight either on the issue of principle or on tactics.
2 We believe there is a danger that these meetings are so dominated by textile specialists that not enough attention is paid to wider issues of trade policy and the Community's relations with the developing world. We would appreciate your advice on ways in
which officials of the Commission at a suitable level could be
consulted on the possible clash between the development, in the group of textile specialists, of a protectionist policy and the wider or longer-term objectives of the Community in international
trade matters.
3
Posts in the eight capitals are similarly requested to consider approaching officials concerned with trade policy at a suitable level and communicating our concern at the way things are developing
4 At the meetings next week we shall be playing for time to allow discussions on the broader aspects to produce results. Our line, of which posts should again give advance notice to officials
concerned, will be as follows:
a
30 January.
List of sensitive products and general approach to non-cottons. The UK publishes its arrangements for restrictions on imports of textile