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THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Brussels, 9 January 1973 S/27/73 (COMER 6)
Letter from the Commission of the European Communities signed by Mr C Scarascia Mugnozza, President dated 29 December 1972 to His Excellency Monsieur W K N Schmelzer, President of the Council of the European Communities subject: recommendation for a decision of the Council concerning the opening of negotiations with Hong Kong for the conclusion of an agreement on the subject of synthetic, artificial and woollen textiles.
Sir,
I have the honour to submit to you a recommendation for a decision by the Council. concerning the opening of negotiations with Hong Kong for the conclusion of an agreement on the subject of synthetic, artificial and woollen textiles.
(polite formula)
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Reference Com (72) 1596 final
Brussels 22 December 1972
EXPLANATORY NOTES
1 In September 1972 the Commission presented to the Council a communication con- cerning the harmonisation for the import regime of synthetic artificial and woollen textiles. In this communication the Commission proposed that the harmonisation of commercial policy should be sought on the basis of an agreement to be negotiated. with certain third countries whose exports to the Community were in danger of creating serious damage.
2 At the meeting on the 8th of November the working group on commercial questions was of the opinion by a large majority that imports originating from Hong Kong already constituted a serious danger and that it would therefore be appropriate to open negotiations with this principal supplier to the Community on this subject even before commercial relations between the Community and other third countries had been settled. In fact between 1969 and 1971 imports into the Community originating from Hong Kong in the products under discussion have increased in a particularly significant manner. Thus in the field of synthetic fabrics of discontinuous fibres the increase has been about 300%, in knitted undergarments, about 115%, in knitted outergarments and in undergarments for men other than knitted approximately 75%. This trend has been accentuated during the current year. During the first seven months of 1972 imports of synthetic fabrics of discontinous fibres reached 920 tonnes compared to 284 tonnes for the whole year 1971; imports of undergarments of knitted fabric rose to 730 tonnes compared to 729 tonnes for 1971; imports of outergarments for men other than knitted rose to 3,390 tonnes compared to 3,280 tonnes for the whole year 1971.