Visit of Mr. Stans, U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Extract from record of meeting between
officials, 25 April, 1969
136
Hong Kong and the 1.4.c.in
12. Sir Arthur Shelling emphasised that, although the United States might regard Japan and Hong Kong as being in a separate category from the less developed countries, wo regarded Hong Kong as a l.d.c. Any agreement envisaged would have
it was hard to believe that Singapore and India could be excluded for long; had the United States given thought to the problems it would create in UNOPAD and what they would offer the 1.d.c.'s?
to cover all l.d.c.'s
13. Mr. Nehmer said that these were among the rasons for wanting a multilateral solution; in any case bilateral sol tions would require legislation. This would be the only way to assure Hong Kong thịt other comtries would not steal their share of the market. The U.S. would "offe their credentials" in the fair operation of the cotton L.B.A.; the alternative would be unilateral restrictions. He was not cure which sectors of the industry were being disrupted by imports from Hong Kong, but he thought that it was of m.m.f. and wool apparel.
14. When pressed on how the U.S. saw itself acting in accord with Part IV of the GATT, which prohibited restraints against the l.d.c.'s "save in compelling circumstances", Mr. Katz said that they regarded this phrase as a major qualification, and that an I.B.A. would permit growth of imports. As a result of the cotton LTA mony 1.3.c.la now had a share of markets they would otherwise have been unable to entur.
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51
12 MAY 1969
AKKG/504/
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