TNAG-0386-FCO40-432-Exports-of-non-cotton-textiles-from-Hong-Kong-to-the-EEC-1973 — Page 56

STATE, IT IS IN HOLLAND, DUT THE EXPLANATION FOR THIS IS PROD- AFLY THAT THE DUTCH NOW SEE LITTLE CHANCE OF A COMMUNITY SOLUTION EMERGING THAT ADEQUATELY TAKES CARE OF THEIR REGIONAL PROBLEM AND

THAT THEY WISH TO KEEP THEIR POWDER DRY TO ASK FOR A MANDATE TO NEGOTIATE WITH US ON A REGIONAL BASIS.

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3. WE AGREE THAT ALL THIS ALSO TENDS TO STRENGTHEN THE GENERAL

ARGUMENT IN FAVOUR OF A UNILATERAL RESTRAINT TOWARDS THE BENELUX AND WE HAVE STILL NOT RULED OUT THIS SOLUTION. THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IS THAT ANY SUCH RESTRAINT, IF IT IS TO BE EFFECTIVE IN ACHIEVING ITS PURPOSE, WILL HAVE TO BE TALLOR-MADE TO FIT BENELUX CIRCUMSTANCES. IN OTHER WORDS CERTAIN OF THE GERMAN ITCMS WOULD NOT

RE APPLICABLE IN THE BENELUX CASE WITTLE OTHER ITEMS NOT RESTRAINED TO GERMANY (OR THE U.K. FOR THAT MATTER) WOULD NEED TO BE RESTRAINED

TO BENELUX, WE MIGHT FOR INSTANCE IN THEIR CASE NEED TO GO OUTSIDE

THE POLYESTER/COTTON FIELD AND INCLUDE E.G. KNITTED VOOL AND

ACRYLIC SWEATERS, PULLOVERS, ETC. WE ARE NOW STUDYING THE FIGURES

INVOLVED IN DETAIL BUT THE PROBLEM OF SELLING ANY ACTION ALONG

THESE LINES TO THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD AND OUR INDUSTRY IN

GENERAL REMAINS A DIFFICULTY ONE.

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