Report by the Finnish Government
At the Special Committee on Preference hold on 3 to 13 April 1973, the Finnish Government reported that most beneficiaries had been late in complying with the notifications requirements under the rules of origin. Only 36 countries had then been qualified and of these 14 had exported eligible products to Finland during 1972. The six leading members (Brazil, Yugoslavia, - Philippines, Mexico, Iran and Argentina) accounted for more than 90% of the value of preferential imports which were mainly unmanufactured tobacco, aluminium sheets and strips, and pile and chenille fabrics.
Effect on Hong Kong's Domestic Trade to Finland
certain
The annex sets: out certain Hong Kong domestic exports in 1971, 1972 and 1973 (i.e. 1 year before and 2 years after the commencement of the Finnish Scheme) to Finland that are eligible for preferential treatment if Hong Kong were included in the Finnish Scheme..
Though Hong Kong total domestic export to Finland in 1972 increased by 17% in value, the sum of our exports on preferential items showed a drop of 8%, mainly due to the sharp fall in the human hair wig export trade. In 1973, Hong Kong's domestic export increased by 72% over that of 1972 to reach 33.5 millions. Export of preferential items in the same period however recorded a further drop of 22% amounting to 3.4 millions only. It is noted that the listed items of interest to Hong Kong in the Finnish Scheme in the periods covered. represented 28%, 22% and 10% respectively of our corresponding domestic export figurés to Finland. We have no sufficient data on hand to show that the Finnish market of these items have been lost to other Finnish GPS beneficiaries since 1973. But tariff disadvantage is believed to be one of the main reasons for the export decline of these items.
c.c. EIC 9016
S
ag Division
Commerce and Industry Department
22 March 1974