CONFIDENTIAL
Action Taken to
inform Hong Kong
Country
File Ref's
By Originator
Holland
89B 16/4/69 (No. 212)
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9CB 16/4/69 (No. 213)
By F.C.O.
REMARKS
CONFIDENTIAL
- 4
Stans met Dutch team led by Minister of Economic Affairs, then paid courtesy call on Secretary-Elect of OECD, Mr. Van Lennep, while Nehmer continued to talk with MEA officials,
US followed same line as elsewhere, but adding that they wished to limit certain imports of wool goods from Italy - they hoped by bilateral agreement. Dutch could see no economic justification for US case, are against GATT Conference in principle. Stans seems not to have done his homework properly, as Dutch had to point out that EEC structure prevents bilateral agreements, e.g. USA/Italy M. de Block thought it unrealistic to try to protect small, uneconomic units; would like full factual information from USA; to restrict imports from I.d.c's contrary to general Dutch policy.
Text of Dutch Communique on Stans Talks7
"Visit was aimed at increasing mutual understanding for economic problems in order to prevent protectionist Trade Policy Developments."
"The US wants to arrive at negotiations on Trade obstacles other than tariffs in Geneva GATT talks this summer. Fast growing Imports of Textiles of woolen and synthetic yarns from a number of Asian countries is prompting the US to seek an arrangement in this area analo- gous to those for cotton products. Understanding for this was sought."
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