TNAG-0465-FCO40-530-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-EEC-Generalised-Scheme-of-Prefer-1974 — Page 68

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CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT BRIEF

EEC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING: 12/13 NOVEMBER

FROVISIONAL AGENDA ITEM

PREFERENCES

INTRODUCTION

: GENERALISED SCHEME OF

1. The aim is to try to reach agreement on the

Community's Generalised Scheme of Freferences for 1975

at this Council meeting. This is optimistic: it is

likely that some items will be left over for further

study at official level and for submission in due

course to the December Council. The Commission

proposals on GSP were fairly forthcoming and a

measure of agreement has already been reached at

working level. There is scope for further improvement,

however, particularly on tobacco, plywood, the treatment

fair

of sensitive items and the treatment of Hong Kong.

that

The main problem is/some of the more protectionist

and members of the Community, especially France / Italy,

will wish to see any further improvements in the scheme

kept to a minimum.

UK OBJECTIVES

2.

For the 1975 scheme to see a substantial improve-

tariff cuts ment in the scheme's coverage and in the extent o

preferences in both the agricultural and industrial

sectors, especially on products of interest to the

Asian countries covered by the Joint Declaration of

Intent. We want an easing of some of the restrictive

elements in the scheme and an improvement in the

position of Hong Kong whose textile and footwear

exports have hitherto been excluded from the scheme.

A statement on Hong Kong is contained in the brief and

for presentational reasons in Hong Kong it is desirable

6196 D073528 200M 2/74 Cr.P.C. 839/3

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

/that