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4.
ON TRADE ISSUES, MOHR SAID THAT THERE WAS A FLURRY OF ACTIVITY. THE ADMINISTRATION WAS DETERMINED TO GET TOUGH WITH THE CHINESE.
THEY HAD INITIATED ACTION UNDER 301, AND WERE LIKELY TO ANNOUNCE RETALIATION UNDER SPECIAL 301 AGAINST CHINESE INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY ABUSES. THEY WERE ALSO ANNOYED AT CHINESE REFUSAL TO
GRANT LICENCES FOR AMERICAN SHIPPING COMPANIES TO OPEN OFFICES IN
CHINA. THE US MARITIME AGENCY WAS ARGUING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION
SHOULD RETALIATE BY IMPOUNDING CHINESE VESSELS IN THE US AND
LEVYING HEAVY FINES FOR THEIR RELEASE. FINALLY, HE SAID US CUSTOMS, WITH THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION, WAS DETERMINED TO INVESTIGATE THOROUGHLY THE ACCOUNTS OF CHINESE COMPANIES REGISTERED IN THE US WHICH HAD BEEN RAIDED RECENTLY ON SUSPICION OF FRAUDULENT DOCUMENTATION OF TEXTILE IMPORTS FROM CHINA.
5. MOHR EXPLAINED THAT THE WHITE HOUSE HAD DECIDED THAT, IN AN ELECTION YEAR, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE ABLE
TO SUSTAIN A VETO ON MFN. THE ADMINISTRATION WAS THEREFORE HITTING
THE CHINESE ON A VARIETY OF SPECIFIC TRADE ISSUES IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THEIR SUPPORT IN THE SENATE ON MFN. (BAUCUS, WHO CARRIED
SIX DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WITH HIM AND WHO HAD WRITTEN TO THE
PRESIDENT ON MEN, WAS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.)
LOOKING AHEAD, HOWEVER, MOHR THOUGHT THAT UNLESS THE CHINESE BEHAVIOUR IMPROVED, THE PRESIDENT MIGHT NOT BE INCLINED TO STAND UP FOR MEN NEXT SUMMER IN THE MIDDLE OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
CAMPAIGN.
SIGNED S D PATTISON
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