TNAG-0244-FCO40-280-Exports-of-textiles-from-Hong-Kong-to-USA-1970 — Page 193

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2

Spatia

EMPHASISE THAT JAPAN WAS THE PRINCIPAL OR A MAJOR SUPPLIER OF ONLY A

FEW OF THE ITEMS WHERE THE AMERICANS MIGHT BEGIN TO HAVE A CASE. SO

FAR NO OFFICIAL HAS BEEN PREPARED TO ELABORATE ON THIS IN DETAIL,

BUT PRESS AND INDUSTRY SOURCES HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE ITEMS INCLUDE

GLOVES AND WOOLLEN CLOTH OF WHICH JAPAN IS A MAJOR SUPPLIER. APPAREL

HAS ALSO BEEN MENTIONED IN GENERAL TERMS. IN THIS FIELD, WOMENS AND

CHILDRENS SWEATERS HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, ALTHOUGH JAPAN IS SAID TO BE

ONLY THE THIRD LARGEST SUPPLIER TO THE UNITED STATES.

4. REPRESENTATIVE OF JAPANESE INDUSTRY WHO CALLED ON COMMERCIAL

COUNSELLOR TODAY CLAIMED THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT HAD GIVEN AN

AIDE-MEMOIRE TO THE AMRICANS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS SAYING THAT (A)

JAPAN COULD NOT AGREE TO EXPORT RESTRAINT WITHOUT CONVINCING PROOF

OF DAMAGE, AND WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION OF JAPANESE INDUSTRY (B) SINCE JAPAN WAS NOT THE PRIMARY SUPPLIER OF MANY ITEMS

ACTION WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER MAJOR

SUPPLIERS. HE SAID THAT PRESS REPORTS SUGGESTING A WILLINGNESS ON THE

PART OF THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO COMPROMISE SHOULD BE DISREGARDED,

AND CLAIMED THAT THE JAPANESE POSITION HAD LARGELY REVERTED TO WHAT

IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING.

FCO PASS PRIORITY HONG KONG ROUTINE WASHINGTON AND UKMIS GENEVA

MR. ASHE

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

TRADE POLICY DEPT.

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