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FCO Telno. Guidance 202
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Commonwealth Preference system or the EEC's Association arrangements.
The developing countries concerned have made it clear that they find
it extremely difficult to decide where their main interests lie,
particularly at this stage of the EEC enlargement negotiations.
The US have offered further consultations with a view to finding
solutions before the schemes are implemented. We do not wish to
incur the criticism that, to the extent that we seek to retain the
reverse preferences we enjoy, we will prevent developing Commonwealth
countries from securing new advantages in the US. On the other hand,
if we are pressed to guarantee the maintaining of all the benefits
we now give to.Commonwealth developing countries, despite the
phasing out of some or all of these reverse proferences, the fact
is that we cannot give any such guarantee. The future of certain
of these benefits, such as the sugar and banana arrangements, depends
on what agreement is reached in Brussels.
Line to Take
7.
With other donors you may draw on the above as appropriate.
8. With prospective beneficiaries - you may say that we hope that
the US will find a solution to this problem acceptable to themselves
and to developing countries concerned.
Products to be Included in Offers
9. This question is, in general, settled and neither the UK nor
other donors envisage any significant additions to their offers,
There will be some limited possibility of amending product coverage
at the time of the proposed periodic reviews, but it is also possible
that, in the event of it proving necessary to take safeguard action
once the scheme is under way, there may be modification in preferences
on particular products in donors' schemes.
Line to Take
10. We have stated that we are always prepared to consider
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