TNAG-0300-FCO40-336-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalized-tariffs-preferences--1971 — Page 98

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Mr Robinson

Sir C O'Neill

Mr Tickell

CONFIDENTIAL

CABINET

281

P.A,

25/10

6

MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON THE APPROACH TC EUROPE

MEETING ON 25 OCTOBER 1971

ITEM 2: AE(71) 35. EEC NEGOTIATIONS:

ASSIMILATION TO COMMUNITY

POLICY ON GENERALISED PREFERENCES AND COTTON TEXTILES

PROBLEM

1. We have to decide very quickly, lest the remaining negotiations

be delayed or obstructed, what to say to the Community about our

eventual adaptation, to which we are committed in principle, to the

EEC Generalised Preferences Scheme. In particular, we have to

decide on the date of adaptation, and about problems arising

over cotton textiles.

RECOMMENDATIONS

2. I recommend that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

should urge the Committee:-

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY N∞.51

256C71971

+ K K bl

a) to approve the proposals in paragraph 14 of

AE(71)35; and

b)

2

to leave over problems raised in the paper which need

not be settled at the meeting itself: including in

Particular the problems in the textile field which have

Important foreign policy (particularly Commonwealth)

implications and on which difficult and far-reaching

decisions will be required.

These should be considered

further by Ministers in due course.

CONFIDENTIAL

/Background