CONFIDENTIAL
VISIT OF THE LORD PRIVY SEAL TO THE FAR EAST
MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT (MFA) : BRIEF NO 7
File
POINTS TO MAKE
(In Hong Kong, Peking and Seoul, if raised)
1.
External trade policy within exclusive Community
competence. Commission negotiates on behalf of EC as a
whole, on the basis of agreed Community positions.
2. We remain strongly in favour of continuing to
resolve the special problems of the textile sector' by
mutual agreement. Welcome outcome of negotiations on
MFA 3. But a number of issues remain to be settled in
bilateral negotiations. These negotiations will need
to be approached in spirit of realism since increasing
difficulties being faced by the EC textile industry
(not least in UK) mean Community's room for manoeuvre.
is bound to remain limited. But naturally hope new
bilateral agreements can be concluded as quickly as
possible on mutually acceptable terms.
',
3. (If it is suggested that by reserving right to
withdraw from MFA EC is threatening fabric of open
trading system).
No one under-estimates seriousness of
CONFIDENTIAL
/situation.
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