TNAG-0135-FCO40-171-Tariff-preferences-for-developing-countries-1969 — Page 118

*

UNITED KINGDOM MISSION

37-39 rue de Vermont, 1202 GENEVA Telex: 22956

Telegrams: Prodrome, Geneva

Telephone: 34.38.00, 33.23.85

2nd September

:

Dear Jodon,

Tariff Preferences

Bob Goldsmith will by now have told you of the discussion we had with di Martino and Tran on 1st September on various aspects of tariff preferences. The purpose of this letter is simply to record the various points for the sake of the file.

2. U.S. Submission

The E.E.C. intend to press the Americans very hard during this weeks meeting of the O.E.C.D. ad hoc Group to explain the ambiguities in their submission and to urge them to be much more forth- coming. In particular the E.E.0. will attack the competitive need approach on the grounds that this is inconsistent with the fundamental basis behind the proposed scheme of tariff preferences, as set out in the Special Group Report in 1907. However the Community do not expect any response from the Americans at this stage and indeed doubt whether they will be in a position to table any more definite documentation to the developing countries by 15th November. If they fail to do so, the D.E.C. would probably be willing to table their proposals as long as the other European donors were also willing to do so. This would not mean that the E.E.0. would be prepared to implement their proposals without any contribution from the Americans but they would see advantage in starting discussions with the developing countries on the basis of their existing proposals but on condition that the America

J.G. Morris Esq.,

Board of Trade

Commercial Relations and

Exports Department,

1, Victoria Street

LONDON SW1

/would

RESTRICTED

p.a.

Ass..

19/9.

Сару

also entered an MT.

15/2