7
CONFIDENTIAL
DRAFT BRIEF
EEC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING: 12/13 NOVEMBER
FROVISIONAL AGENDA ITEM
PREFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
: GENERALISED SCHEME OF
1. The aim is to try to reach agreement on the
Community's Generalised Scheme of Freferences for 1975
at this Council meeting. This is optimistic: it is
likely that some items will be left over for further
study at official level and for submission in due
course to the December Council. The Commission
proposals on GSP were fairly forthcoming and a
measure of agreement has already been reached at
working level. There is scope for further improvement,
however, particularly on tobacco, plywood, the treatment
fair
of sensitive items and the treatment of Hong Kong.
that
The main problem is/some of the more protectionist
and members of the Community, especially France / Italy,
will wish to see any further improvements in the scheme
kept to a minimum.
UK OBJECTIVES
2.
For the 1975 scheme to see a substantial improve-
tariff cuts ment in the scheme's coverage and in the extent o
preferences in both the agricultural and industrial
sectors, especially on products of interest to the
Asian countries covered by the Joint Declaration of
Intent. We want an easing of some of the restrictive
elements in the scheme and an improvement in the
position of Hong Kong whose textile and footwear
exports have hitherto been excluded from the scheme.
A statement on Hong Kong is contained in the brief and
for presentational reasons in Hong Kong it is desirable
6196 D073528 200M 2/74 Cr.P.C. 839/3
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
CONFIDENTIAL
/that