TNAG-2468-FCO40-3592-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1992 — Page 161

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5 June 1992

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Mer Stove HCD de smith J.i.

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Ms Jan Clarke

OT2, DTI

Bay 760

Kingsgate House

En 082

As

66-74 Victoria Street

London SW1

Dear Jan

US: CURRENT LEGISLATION

1.

2.

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summan for

soutone

defunct

with a

British Embassy Washington

3100 Massachusetts Ave N.W.

Washington D.C. 20008-3600

Telephone: (202)

Telex: RCA 211427 or 216760-WUI 64224

database.

Facsimile: (202) 898-4255

MIGR

19/0

You may have heard of our sad loss earlier this year - our legislation database died. We now have some new equipment and will be rebuilding the information, but it will take a while. In the mean-time, I think an up-date on what Congress has been doing since my last round-up letter, dated 18 December, is overdue.

Summary

2. The most important development, as far as we concerned, since Congress returned in February, has been the introduction of the trade bill (HR5100), on which we have been reporting separately. There has also been some floor action, including on energy (a bill passed in the Senate at last), China trade (President's veto sustained) and tax proposals (abortive, but took up a lot of time) and committees have also been busy, on energy, other trade bills, foreign influence, cable TV and intellectual property amongst other subjects.

Detail

Trade Policy

-

3. As you know, a trade bill has been introduced into the House (our telegram of 7 May and Andrew Heath's letter of 12 May). Sub-committee mark-up began on 3 June and is scheduled to be completed on 9 June. Senator Riegle has also introduced a bill into the Senate (- my letter of 26 May). When the Senate is drafting its bill, it may select a few items from Riegle's the most likely candidate is the tariff re-classification of sport utility vehicles. Senator Baucus has also been talking about what he would like to see in a trade bill - he favours a shorter, simpler bill which the President would find more difficult to veto

(see my letter of 26 May). He has withdrawn his support for a VRA on Japanese cars because there is not enough support for his competitiveness quid pro quo. There are reports that the House will consider a number of other trade related bills during the remainder of the session, on subjects like Japan's anti-trust laws and trade and the environment, in order to keep the trade issue to the forefront and the President on the defensive.

14.

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