GRS 803 IMMEDIATE
THER CAT A
CO 2214402
RESTRICTED
DESKBY 221600Z
FRAME FILES
RESTRICTED
25 OCT 1974
/1~KKG / 598/1
тыу
Ente
164
TO IMMEDIATE UKREP BRUSSELS TELNO 972 OF 22/13.74
MEETING OF COREPER (DEPUTIES) ON 23 OCTOBER:
GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES (GSP)
THE OBJECT OF INCLUDING GSP ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING IS TO DISCUSS SEVERAL MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES, NAMELY THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSALS ON PROCESSED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, OUR REQUESTS FOR LARGER PLYWOOD AND TOMBACCO QUOTAS FOR 1974 AND 1975 AND THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSALS ON FOOTWEAR. OUR MAIN REQUIREMENTS HERE ARE TO SECURE A REASONABLE CONCESSION ON CASTOR OIL, MAKE PROGRESS ON THE PLYWOOD AND TOBACCO FRONTS AND STRONGLY TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE HONG KONG'S FOOTWEAR IN THE SCHEME. IN MANY WAYS THIS WILL BE NO MORE THAN A PRELIMINARY RUN OVER THE GOUND AND ONLY PART OF IT AT THAT. MORE SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION WILL COME IN SUBSEQUENT COREPER MEETINGS, BUT YOU SHOULD NONE THE LESS TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND OTHER MEMBER STATES THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GSP FOR 1975. IN DISCUSSION ON THE VARIOUS ISSUES YOU SHOULD DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS. PROCESSED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
2. OF THE ITEMS ON THE COMMISSION'S AGRICULTURAL LIST WHCICH ARE STIL OUTSTANDING AND WHICH ARE NOT CONDITIONAL ON PROGRESS IN THE PROTOCOL 22 NEGOTIATIONS, CASTOR OIL IS THE ONLY ONE OF MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE TO THE UK. YOU SHOULD MAINTAIN SUPPORT FOR A CUT TO 4 PER CENT AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION. WE WISH THE CONCESSION TO BE AGREED AS A MEANS OF ASSISTING INDIA BUT WE ARE SYMPATHETIC TO THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT IT IS NOT ABUSED BY BRAZIL. WE SUPPORT THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSALS ON THE OTHER OUTSTANDING ITEMS (HONEY, ORCHIDS AND CIGARS AND CERTAIN OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS) BUT THERE IS NO NEED FOR YOU TO COMMENT ON THEM.
3. YOU WHOULD EMPHASISE THE IMPORTANCE WE ATTACH TO INCLUSION IN THE GSP FOR 1975 OF THE ITEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN LINKED WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR A NEW CONVENTION OF ASSOCIATION. THERE IS A DANGER THAT IF OTHER MEMBER STATES ARE UNWILLING TO DISCUSS THEM UNTIL THE ASSOCIATION NEGOTIATIONS ARE COMPLETE, THERE WILL NOT BE TIME TO CONSIDER THEM PROPERLY AS A PART OF THE 1975 GSP OFFER. WE WISH TO
RES PRIC PED
/SEE