TNAG-2469-FCO40-3593-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1992 — Page 239

ITP/DTI Ashdown House

TEL: 071-215-6767

*

071 215 6767 10.026 P.02

MAH.11/1

LIAISON MEETING BETWEEN DTI/ITP, DTI.N.E./ILB, H.M.CUSTOMS & EXCISE at Alexander House, Southend on Sea, on Thursday, 25th June, 1992.

Representing ITP

Mrs Sheila Morris ITP/3C

Mr Glyn Miller ITP/1B

Mrs Liz Walter ITP/3C

DTI North East

Mr Bob Muse ILB

Mrs Anne Simpson ILB

H.M.C & Ex. Alexander House

Mr Fred Dobinson CD/3C

Mr John Lavery CD/3C

Mr Allan Waight CD/5E Mr Jo Connor CD/6

Mrs Cathy Sutton CD/6 Miss Anne Dyer CD/3C Miss Kate Parsons CD/3C

H.M.C & Ex. Harmsworth House

Mr David Randle SIO, ID Mr Andy Miller ID

1) introductions:

2)

Investigation Division,

Multi Fibre Arrangement Category 5 (Imer (unit: Cashmere) * Senior Investigation Offer

Looking into tals: Certificates of Origin on Pullovers from

Tamran / Hong Kong

and Manditius.

Chmiøse Origin

A. lid, Customs & Excise with suspected Harmswa the House,

Bouverie Street. London ecay RBS

371

Tel: 071-353-1525 Fax:071

·071-253-5738

OPT:

Allan Waight explained the Customs interpretation and application of Protocol 4 (Origin rules) for preferential and non- preferential origin. He went on to promise a letter on the exact requirements in relation to trimmings for DTI to pass to traders. Sheila Morris reported on the recent 113 Committee meeting where it had been agreed the UK strict application of protocol 4 in the context of Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland was correct in the EC Commission's view and differences of interpretation used by Danes, Germans, and Dutch (currently giving full remission of duty rather than the partial remission applicable to non-preferential origin) was regrettable. Jo Connor made the point that the EUR/1 certificate should be evidence of EC cloth and that double standards were unfair to our importers. John Lavery expanded on this by showing there were actually three different types of outward processing possible; general public confusion being the result. Mrs. Morris said that UK kept a low profile in committee in keeping with UK use of OPT - but the Commission had raised the matter of the spirit of the Agreement; and in fact the countries guilty of more "relaxed" interpretation of the rules were threatening to take their case before the European Court on the grounds that in Regulation 636 protocol 1 does not cross reference protocol 4 (as it should and was intended to be understood to do), this has been put right since in the Bulgarian/Romanian Agreements. Cathy Sutton agreed that the two latter countries were getting OP Relief but not preferential origin and Glyn Miller mentioned that the Czechs had told him UK Customs were the only M/S authority doing their job right! Bob Muse offered the possibility

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