TNAG-0341-FCO40-377-Effects-on-Hong-Kong-of-long-term-policy-for-textiles-in-int-1972 — Page 172

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TO ROUTINE F C O TEL NO 377 OF 12 APRIL 1972 INFO UKMIS GEPEVA

SAVING TO UKDEL EEC AND WASHINGTON

GATT TEXTILE STUDY

1. LONG IS DUE TO ARRIVE HERE TODAY TO TAKE PART IN AN

INTERNATIONAL TRADE SYMPOSIUM ARRANGED BY THE YONIURI

NEWSPAPER, HIS VISIT HAS PROPTED SPECULATION ABOUT JAPANESE

POLICY TOWARDS THE GATT TEXTILE WORKING GROUP. REPORTS HAVE

APPEARED SUGGESTING THAT MITI HAVE NOW AGREED TO JAPANESE PARTICIPATION, INSPITE OF OPPOSITION FROM JAPANESE INDUSTRY. MITI'S DECISION IS ALLEGED TO BE BASED ON FEAR OF BEING ISOLATED

IF ALL OTHER LEADING TRADING NATIONS DECIDE TO TAKE PART.

2a WE HAVE SPOKEN TO JAPANESE OFFICIALS ABOUT LONG'S VISIT,

THEY HAVE SAID THAT NO OFFICIAL TALKS HAVE BEEN ARRANGED FOR HIM, APART FROM COURTESY CALLS ON MINISTERS. THEY REFUSED TO COMMENT ON PRESS REPORTS ABOUT THIS CHANGE IN MITI'S ATTITUDE.

F C O PASS SAVING UKDEL EEC AND WASHINGTON.

PILCHER

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DISTRIBUTION

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