HWB 091/2
175
by fax
30 November 1992
Robin Impey
Esq
ITPla
DTI
Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
LONDON SW1
Dear
Robmi
12€
GATT: CHINA: US POSITION ON MEN
1
United Kingdom Mission
To the Office of the
United Nations and Other International Organisations at Geneva
97-99 Rue de Vermont, 1211 Geneva 20
Telephone: 734 38 00
Telex: 414195 (a/b 414195 UKGV CH) Facsimile: 734 52 54
Mum Bouch
AAB 2/12
th- whit zest 3/12
Mr. Man. M. Ricky.
Not tou
Ергонадий
2/11
Munen
Thank you for copying to us your letter to Terry Furness of 24 November, where you helpfully set out the issues which arise in relation to the US position on the granting of MFN treatment to China.
2
I am sure you are right that the only way for the US to maintain its freedom of action to conduct periodic reviews of the MFN status it presently grants to China, as required under Jackson-Vanik, will be to invoke GATT Article XXXV as
I also and when China again becomes a Contracting Party. agree with you that the only basis on which Article XXXV could be invoked is that China is acceding to GATT as though it were a new CP and not resuming the CP status which the ROC surrendered in 1950. The USTR people here are well aware of this and say that the US would be prepared to find itself in a minority of one in defending this positiFp, primarily in order to invoke Article XXXV and thereby be able to continue to keep China's MFN status under constant review. And they expect the new Clinton Administration to be at least as firm on this as past ones.
yours
Peter
PJ A YOUNG
cc (by fax)
I Fletcher
A Murray
Esq
T Furness Esq
Esq
HKD, FCO
ITPla, DTI OT2/2, DTI
W Marris
Esq
FED, FCO
R Madelin
Esq
Ma V Life
UKRep Brussels Washington
200 /200-
C22 "ON
ÞS 25 ÞOL 220
26/21/10
888-206