TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1984
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UNITED STATES MAKES +CALLS+ ON TWO MORE CATEGORIES
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THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD MADE EXPORT AUTHORISATION (EA) CALLS ON CATEGORY 433 (WOOL SUIT-TYPE COATS MEN AND BOYS) AND PART OF CATEGORY 369 (COTTON WIPING CLOTH).
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME HONG KONG RECEIVED CALLS FROM THE UNITED STATES SO FAR THIS YEAR.
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PENDING CONSULTATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT THE DEPARTMENT HAS SUSPENDED THE ISSUE OF FURTHER EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS FOR THESE CATEGORIES.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL HOWEVER CONTINUE TO APPROVE AND ISSUE EXPORT LICENCES FOR THESE CATEGORIES AGAINST VALID EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS APPROVED PRIOR TO THE SUSPENSION.
MEANWHILE, THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, LEFT HONG KONG TODAY FOR GENEVA. HE WILL LEAD A DELEGATION TO ATTEND THE GATT TEXTILES SURVEILLANCE BODY MEETING ON MAY 3-4, WHICH WILL EXAMINE, AT HONG KONG'S REQUEST, THE CASE OVER THE +CALLS+ IN FEBRUARY BY THE UNITED STATES ON CATEGORIES 637 (MAN-MADE FIBRE PLAYSUITS) AND 652 (MAN-MADE FIBRE UNDERWEAR).
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DURING CONSULTATIONS REGARDING CAT. 637 AND CAT. 652 IN MARCH, HONG KONG REJECTED THE UNITED STATES REQUEST FOR RESTRAINT ON THESE CATEGORIES DUE TO LACK OF JUSTIFICATION. THE UNITED STATES EXERCISED ITS RIGHTS TO IMPOSE LIMITS ON THESE TWO CATEGORIES. HONG KONG DISAGREES WITH THE UNITED STATES ACTION, HONG KONG HAS DECIDED TO REFER THE CASE TO TEXTILES SURVEILLANCE BODY FOR RECOMMENDATION.
ON HIS WAY TO GENEVA, MR MACLEOD WILL STOP OVER IN WASHINGTON, TO DISCUSS WITH UNITED STATES OFFICIALS VARIOUS TEXTILE MATTERS, INCLUDING THE RECENT UNITED STATES ANNOUNCEMENT ON CLASSIFICATION OF GARMENT PARTS LEADING TO A CHANGE IN CATEGORISATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES-HONG KONG TEXTILES AGREEMENT.
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