SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1988
1
U.S. TEXTILES BILL HAS 'SOME WAY TO GO'
* *
"THE TEXTILES BILL HAS SOME WAY TO GO BEFORE THERE IS A THREAT OF IT BEING PASSED INTO LAW, THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR MICHAEL SZE,
SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
I
HE WAS COMMENTING ON THE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES' DECISION YESTERDAY BY 248 VOTES TO 150 TO ADOPT THE SENATE VERSION OF THE BILL, WITH 34 NOT VOTING.
THE BILL WOULD FREEZE TEXTILE AND APPAREL IMPORTS TO THE U.S. AT 1987 LEVELS WITH ONLY ONE PER CENT GROWTH THEREAFTER.
THE BILL WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT WHO HAS SAID MANY TIMES THAT HE WILL VETO IT.
BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE OVER-RIDE THE VETO.
REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS
"PRESENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT PROPONENTS OF THE UNABLE TO MUSTER THE NECESSARY TWO-THIRDS SUPPORT IN SENATE TO OVER-RIDE A PRESIDENTIAL VETO, MR SZE SAID.
MAJORITY TO
BILL WILL BE
THE HOUSE AND
HE ADDED THAT PASSAGE OF THE TEXTILES BILL INTO U.S. LAW WOULD BE DISASTROUS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM AND A GREAT SETBACK TO HONG KONG'S TRADE.
MR SZE RETURNED ON THURSDAY FROM TALKS IN GENEVA WITH MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL TEXTILES AND CLOTHING BUREAU ON WAYS ΤΟ CONVEY ITS MEMBERS + STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE TEXTILES BILL TO MEMBERS OF THE U.S. CONGRESS MOST EFFECTIVELY, AND TO PRESS FOR THE LIBERALISATION OF TRADE IN TEXTILES AND CLOTHING IN THE URUGUAY ROUND.
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, RETURNED YESTERDAY FROM A VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES WHERE HE MET THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE, MR CLAYTON YEUTTER.
MR MACLEOD THANKED THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION FOR ITS FIRM STAND AGAINST THE TEXTILES BILL AND HIGHLIGHTED THE DAMAGING EFFECT IT'S PASSAGE INTO LAW COULD HAVE ON HONG KONG AND THE INTERNATIONAL TRADING SYSTEM.
J
IN A PARALLEL MOVE THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR MICHAEL CARTLAND PASSED A DIPLOMATIC NOTE TO
+
THE CONSUL GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES IN HONG KONG, MR DONALD ANDERSON, HONG KONG'S CONCERN OVER THE TEXTILES BILL.
RE-EMPHASISING
THE EUROPEAN
OTHER POWERFUL OPPONENTS OF THE BILL INCLUDING
1 ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES, ARE ACTIVELY LOBBYING AGAINST THE BILL.
ALSO
/2