33-FEB-1993 09:48 22-FEB-1993 16:55
FCO NEWS DEPT JAMES LEE
071 270 3734
TRANSCRIPT B GUS O'DONNELL/FRANCIS CORNISH/MARK PELLEW
BACKGROUND BRIEFING - LONDON - 22 FEBRUARY 1993
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it should the EC that negotiates on trade issues. I know it is
delicate but I think that is something that with Sir Leon Brittan
now as Trade Commissioner, we should be able to help on. So I
think there are actually reasons why you might say the
relationship could be more special now but it is for others to
decide what to call it. We just want to work together closely and
successfully and effectively.
QUESTION:
May I ask whether the Prime Minister's appearances on American
television involve the usual breakfast TV coast-to-coast and all
that?
GUS O'DONNELL:
I don't want to give away any commercial secrets here but he has
done that before and he may well do it again.
QUESTION:
Do you expect any discussions on NAFTA, the North American Free
Is this of any particular concern to Britain?
Trade Agreement?
GUS O'DONNELL:
It is certainly not down on the list of issues to raise, no. Ne
will be much more concerned about general UK-US, EC-US and GATT
and there are some specific questions about taxation of foreign
companies which would have loomed large but for the State of the
Union Address. Whilst there were certain campaign threats about