TNAG-0299-FCO40-335-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalized-tariffs-preferences--1971 — Page 172

PRIORITY

CYPHER/CAT-A-

FM WASHINGTON 026415Z

CONFIDENTIAL. [NEUTRAL]

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No. 51

13 MAY 1971

4116/1

142

TO PRIORITY FCO TELO 1154 OF 2/4 R.F.1. TO KINGSTON AND UKDEL

BRUSSELS AND SAVING TO GEORGETOWN PORT OF SPAIN BRIDGETOWN AND

CASTRIES.

KINGSTON'S TELNO 91 TO YOU: PREFERENCES.

THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE,

POLICY TODAY RAISED MR. LIGHTBOURNE'S STATEMENT IN THE COURSE OF

A DISCUSSION WITH COMMERCIAL COUNSELLOR, CRONK SAID THAT THE U.S.

POSITION ON PREFERENTIAL AGREEMENTS WAS TOTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD IN

SOME QUARTERS AND THAT THEY INTENDED TO RE-STATE IT QUOTE TO ALL

THOSE CONCERNED UNQUOTE.

2. HE INDICATED THAT THE U.S, DID NOT LIKE ANY BREACH OF M.F.N.

PRINCIPLES BUT THAT THEY WERE UNDERSTANDING ABOUT ARRANGEMENTS WHICH

ACCORDED PREFERENTIAL ENTRY TO FORMER METROPOLITAN COUNTRIES FOR

GOODS FROM THEIR EX-DEPENDENCIES, HOWEVER, THE U.S. OBJECTED

STRONGLY TO REVERSE PREFERENCES AND WERE DETERMINED TO TAKE

EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS FOR THEIR ABOLITION. THE U.S. D'EMARCHES -

IN EUROPEAN CAPITALS AT THE END OF LAST YEAR REGARDING THE

E.E.C.'S OFFER OF ASSOCIATION TO COMMONWEALTH AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN

COUNTRIES AS WELL AS THEIR POSITION ON THE GENERALISED

PREFERENCES SCHEME, SHOULD BE SEEN IN THIS LIGHT.

За MEYNELL COMMENTED THAT THE LONG STANDING AMERICAN OBJECTIONS

TO REVERSE PREFERENCES WERE WELL UNDERSTOOD IN LONDON AND HAD BEEN

COVERED IN MR. RIPPON'S RECENT DISCUSSIONS IN WASHINGTON. BUT

IF THERE WERE MISUNDERSTANDINGS ELSEWHERE THE REASON MIGHT IN PART

/LIE

CONFIDENTIAL