George Kynoch M.P.
House of Commons,
London
SWIA OAH
Rose Cottage, Strachan, Kincardineshire
AB31 3NL
9th April 1993
Dear Mr. Kynoch.
'Most Favoured Nation Status" - China/United States
Chinese exports to the United States enjoy special "Most Favoured Nation Status" - that is they do not have to bear the special high tariffs imposed on communist countries (non-market economies).
They have enjoyed this privilege without any requirements to improve their human rights record in China or Tibet.
President Clinton is intending in May to make this special privilege ("Most Favoured Nation Status") dependent on an improvement to their human rights record. It is understood that Mr. Chris Patten, Governor of Hong Kong, is going to Washington to urge him not to impose such conditions.
(a)
(b)
Could you please:
ask if it is United Kingdom policy to urge President Clinton not to impose conditions on China's "Most Favoured Nation Status"
and
if this is U.K. policy, to ask the Government to reconsider its policy and to express support for imposition of conditions on renewal of China's "Most Favoured Nation Status" (MFN)
The idea behind an unconditional "Most Favoured Nation Status" is that it will encourage China to go easy on human rights abuses - some hope! - to the Chinese Government it signals that it can do as it likes.
yours faithfully,
Roger Games
Roger Eames
Encl. Tibet Support Group leaflet for information