TNAG-0149-FCO40-185-Cotton-textiles-to-France-1969 — Page 140

Reference

French Import Restrictions in Cotton Textiles

The attached table shows the ceilings on the French import quotas. These quotas cover all cotton textiles, with the sole exception of ootton yarn, The quotas on South Korea and the U.A.R. are almost certainly licensed at the French end. The Hong Kong quota is divided into two, half of which is licensed at the Hong Kong end and the other half at the French end. India and Pakistan have a hand in licensing their quotas The Indian and Pakistan quotas are part of overall EEC bilatera agreements. The other quotas are negotiated directly with the exporting countries.

We have, as you say, heard rumours that the French delib- erately make life difficult for importers by manipulating their import arrangements, but we have no firm evidence.

In any case over the past eighteen months, Hong Kong, India and Pakistan have all managed to gain control of part at least of the licensing, which must have reduced the scope for French administrative blockage.

Miss Welch,

IND.1.

(Mrs. H. Bretherton)

IND.1

3 February 1969.