TNAG-0304-FCO40-340-Effects-of-tariffs-on-imports-of-cotton-textiles-to-UK-from--1971 — Page 121

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(to use the words of Haddon-Cave);

and that if

we are unable to give any concessions to Hong Kong

(judging from paragraph 6 of your minute of

7 December to Mr Grant, we are not likely to reach

this totally negative stage), we should be able

to demonstrate, with as much factual information

as we can, why the Hong Kong proposals would present

a serious erosion of the intent behind the

Government's decision. We would therefore find it

most useful if you could let us know fairly soon

how you envisage undertaking the preparatory work

for the resumed talks; and, while this is not

specifically on the agenda, whether you consider

we might be able to be more forthcoming at the talks

January on our own intentions towards formulating

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N.P. 4.

a textile trade policy, together with our partners

in the enlarged EEC, which takes account equally

of the interests of developing countries in

expanding their exports of textiles and of the need

of the textile industries here and elsewhere in the

Community to evolve on a basis of genuine competitiveness,

and of the right of efficient producers and their

workers to safeguards against disruptive imports.

I realise this is a longer term problem, but if we

could demonstrate to the Hong Kong delegation that

we now seriously intended to promote a textile

trade policy along the foregoing lines, this might

also help in softening the immediate effects of

our reversal on quotas.

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