TNAG-0938-FCO40-1157-Visit-of-John-Nott--Secretary-of-State-for-Trade--to-Hong-Ko-1980 — Page 240

HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

Brief No 5

ANTI-DUMPING

General Line to Take (defensive)

Responsibility for applying the provisions of the GATT Anti-dumping Code now rests with the European Commission which supervises and operates, in consultation with Member States, the relevant Community legislation.

Background

Alarm clocks

m

The HK authorities and the producers and suppliers concerned are well aware of this investigation the EEC Commission team visited them during the week 3 to 7 December. During the visit the British Trade Commissioner and the HK Trade, Industry and Customs Department were briefed. The case was prepared by Westclox (the sole UK producer) and is supported by French and Germen producers, and was initially against clocks from East European countries and China. Hong Kong was added to the list of countries to be investigated because it was seen that a large number of clocks at low prices were being exported to the UK. It is probable that the fair market prices established from the investigation in Hong Kong will be used as standards, against which to compare the export prices of the other

accused countries.

General Division 1 December 1979

CONVIDEATTI AT

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