TNAG-0146-FCO40-182-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-States-of-America-1969 — Page 17

CONFIDENTIAL

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(28%) AND CONSUMPTION (22%), TOTAL IMPORTS IN THE FIRST SIX

MONTHS OF 1969 SHOWED A DECLINE OF 5.7% AS COMPARED WITH THE FIRST

SIX MONTHS OF 1968.

44.

IN 1968 IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG ALONE REACHED ONLY 4.6%

OF U.S. PRODUCTION AND 3.7% OF CONSUMPTION.

5. IN BOTH M M F AND WOOL, IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG APPEAR

IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 1969 TO HAVE TAKEN A LARGER SHARE OF

THE TOTAL (UNDERLINE NEXT WORD) IMPORT MARKET, AT THE EXPENSE

OF OTHER SUPPLIERS, BUT THIS FACT DOES NOT, IN THE H.K. GOVERNMENT'S

VIEW, INDICATE THAT THESE IMPORTS ARE CAUSING INJURY TO U.S.

PRODUCERS.

6. IT IS NOTED THAT U.S. CONSUL-GENERAL'S PRESENTATION INCLUDED

NO SUGGESTION OF DECLINE IN PRODUCTION, SALES, PROFITS OR EMPLOYMENT.

7. HONG KONG HAS NOT ENTERED INTO A COMPREHENSIVE BILATERAL

AGREEMENT SUCH AS IS NOW PROPOSED WITH ANY OTHER COUNTRY. ITS ONLY

COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENTS WERE MADE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CTA,

WHICH THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES AGREED WAS INTENDED TO DEAL

WITH THE UNIQUE PROBLEMS OF UNDERLINE NEXT WORD COTTON

TEXTILES AND NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS LENDING ITSELF TO APPLICATION

IN OTHER FIELDS.

8. HONG KONG'S EXISTING EXPORT RESTRAINT ARRANGEMENTS IN THE

FIELD OF NON-COTTON TEXTILES ARE BASED ON EVIDENCE OF SERIOUS

INJURY TO COMESTIC PRODUCERS OF THE PARTICULAR ITEMS CONCERNED.

NO SUCH EVIDENCE HAS BEEN ADDUCED IN SUPPORT OF THE PRESENT

PROPOSAL.

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