impossible to fight. Hong Kong would then be placed at
a competitive disadvantage with its main competitors,
Korea and Taiwan, who have generally gained trade at
Hong Kong's expense where Hong Kong has lost
beneficiary status in individual products. Japan i s
likely to be
another beneficiary is Hong Kong were to
In 1984 about 16.1% of
be excluded from this scheme.
Hong Kong exports to the United States, or US$ 1.326
million, enjoyed GSP duty free status.
19.
Mr Brittan has been briefed to raise these
visit to Washington from 29
concerns
October.
during
30
20.
In the wider world, the renegotiations of the Multi Fibre Arrangement (MFA) will be a very important
is sue for Hong Kong. MFA aims at the orderly
development and expansion of international trade in
textiles and provides the
framework within which Hong
agreements
with
The current MFA will
Kong negotiates bilateral restraint
textile importing countries.
expire on 31 July 1986. Hong Kong
increasingly severe
term of the MFA,
treatment than other
and free market.
protectionist
has experienced
each successive
received worse
restrictions in
and generally has
suppliers, despite its own open
I t
in sentiments
yet again, lead to an even governing
current MFA
i s
thus concerned that
its major
could, markets
trade in
expires.
a
need for
another
more restrictive regime
textiles and clothing when the
if It therefore considers that,
term of the MFA,
the
there i s
restrictions should not be further
further intensified and Hong
11
Kong
should not
treatment than others.
1977 and 1981 to extend
Government
sought
Protect Hong Kong's
harsher
in
again be singled out for
In previous negotiations
the MFA, the Hong Kong
from HMG that
would
interests. On 9 May, Mr Channon, the Department of Trade, set out
the
assurance
Minister of State at
HMG's policy
on
future
of the
UK
MFA.
In
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