E
3.
The over-riding consideration for British Ministers will
be the maintenance of the global import ceilings especially
for the eight products identified as "highly sensitive". If
these are not to be exceeded, a margin must be kept in hand to
deal with newcomers and small suppliers to the Community
market. The Commission have started from the principle that
the poorest suppliers, above all India and Pakistan, cannot
be expected to take cuts below the level of 1976 sendings and,
in all equity, this principle is hard to deny. With inexorable
logic, the Commission have therefore concluded that some cutback
below 1976 levels will have to be made for the Community's
"dominant" suppliers, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan. This
is the origin of the figures presented by Trand during his visit
to Hong Kong. Though they are not yet finalised, they are
likely to be of the same order when the world-wide scheme
of figures is completed at the end of this week. Proportionately
similar sacrifices are to be asked of South Korea and applied
to Taiwan.
fully determined to concluded a
satisfactory
If
4. The Commissionare
programme of bilaterals, by which they mean one which covers
at least 75% of the Community's imports, by the end of November
Only if Hong Kong concludes will 75% of imports be covered.
they do not succeed, they will not recommend signature of a
renewed MFA. They are preparing methods for the imposition of
unilateral, import-administered, Community quotas for use against
those exporters who do not conclude new agreements. The Prime
Minister is particularly determined that controls. must be
imposed if they cannot be negotiated. Such unilateral measures
would almost certainly be tougher than a negotiated settlement
I know that and Hong Kong, in particular, would not wish to lose export
administration of its quotas.
/ 5.
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