1
REL
RESTRICTED
gaili
23 FEB 1913
176031
MDHIAN 0263
RESTRICTED
FM WASHINGTON
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 363
OF 190001Z FEBRUARY 93
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEKING, ACTOR
(15)
YOUR TELNO 155: CHINA/MFN
TOP COPY QDIST?
WE ARE IN REGULAR TOUCH WITH KEY AGENCIES, WHO ARE WELL AWARE OF OUR CONCERNS (SEE MY TELNO 314).
1.
THE
2.
WE SPOKE AGAIN TO STATE AND UŠTR ON 18 FEBRUARY. THEY TOLD US THAT THERE ARE TWO U.S./CHINA TRADE MEETINGS IN PROSPECT. THE FIRST, ON 23-24 FEBRUARY, WILL DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE U.S./CHINA MARKET ACCESS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENTS. AMERICAN AIM IS TO NAIL DOWN THE CHINESE ON TECHNICAL DETAILS, INCLUDING NUMBERS FOR 202 QUOTAS ON SPECIFIC ITEMS WHICH THE CHINESE HAVE PROMISED TO INCREASE. THE MEETING ON 1-2 MARCH WILL DISCUSS CHINA'S GATT ACCESSION. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST FORMAL BILATERAL ON GATT SINCE 1989, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN INFORMAL CONTACTS IN GENEVA. THE AMERICAN AIM IS TO GIVE THE CHINESE A HELPING HAND BY TAKING THEM THROUGH WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IF THEY ARE TO ACHIEVE ACCESSION TO GATT, DRAWING ON THE DRAFT PROTOCOL WHICH THE U.S. PREPARED IN 1989.
3. STATE REAFFIRMED THAT THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF OUR POSITION ON MFN. BUT NEITHER OF THESE MEETINGS WAS REALLY AN APPROPRIATE OCCASION FOR DISCUSSION OF IT.
RENWICK
YYYY
PAGE 1 RESTRICTED