Brief for usit
of
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr. Stans prepared by Federal German
Ministry of Economics
117
I.
Voluntary Restraint of Exports
Preliminary remarks
According to our information, the Americans intend to give
priority to the question of voluntary restraint of textile exports.
Considerable political importance attaches to this question for
them. The US Government is hoping to forestall numerous Congression-
al requests for the introduction of quotas by making arrangements
about export restrictions with several countries.
The objective of the talks initiated by the US is obviously to
obtain our basic consent to such trade policies.
This intention is said to have met with disapproval in the European
Communities, Great Britain and Japan.
On 12 October, 1967, the Federal Government, rejected the USA's
request for restrictions on the export of cotton velvet for reasons
of principle.
II. Probable American Position.
Disproportionate rates of growth in imports, especially of woollen
textures and synthetic textiles, are said to have caused grave
concern in the American textile sector lately. The textile sector
is reported to have exerted increased pressure on Congress and the
Administration to introduce import quotas (30 quota bills at
present).
However, the introduction of import quotas would be contrary to
the concept of a trade policy which was announced by the US
President (profession of a liberal trade policy) and considerably
worsen the climate for the further flourishing of world trade.
1
Σ
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.