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THAT OTHER MEMBER STATES SEEM UNSIGHTED ON THIS ISSUE, IT IS
NECESSARY TO KEEP THE COMMISSION UP TO THE MARK, AND NOT ALLOW
THEM TO WRONG-FOOT THEMSELVES BY CONCEDING TOO QUICKLY ON AREAS
WHERE THE MEXICANS HAVE INDICATED FLEXIBILITY (EG ACCEPTING A 50
PER CENT MAXIMUM TARIFF, WHILE, AS YOU REPORT, THE MEXICANS HAVE
ALREADY REDUCED THIS TO 45 PER CENT WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF
FURTHER REDUCTIONS). OPERATING IN A VACUUM INEVITABLY IDENTIFIES
THE UK POSITION AS MORE CRITICAL THAN THAT OF OTHER MEMBER
STATES. BUT WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED NOT TO BECOME EXPOSED
ON THIS ISSUE.
HOWE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
ECD (E)
MCAD
MR DAVID THOMAS
COPIES TO
MR MADELIN, ITP/DTI,
VICTORIA ST.
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