TNAG-2469-FCO40-3593-Most-favoured-nation-status-for-China-Hong-Kong-interests-1992 — Page 82

HWB 091/2

175

by fax

30 November 1992

Robin Impey

Esq

ITPla

DTI

Ashdown House

123 Victoria Street

LONDON SW1

Dear

Robmi

12€

GATT: CHINA: US POSITION ON MEN

1

United Kingdom Mission

To the Office of the

United Nations and Other International Organisations at Geneva

97-99 Rue de Vermont, 1211 Geneva 20

Telephone: 734 38 00

Telex: 414195 (a/b 414195 UKGV CH) Facsimile: 734 52 54

Mum Bouch

AAB 2/12

th- whit zest 3/12

Mr. Man. M. Ricky.

Not tou

Ергонадий

2/11

Munen

Thank you for copying to us your letter to Terry Furness of 24 November, where you helpfully set out the issues which arise in relation to the US position on the granting of MFN treatment to China.

2

I am sure you are right that the only way for the US to maintain its freedom of action to conduct periodic reviews of the MFN status it presently grants to China, as required under Jackson-Vanik, will be to invoke GATT Article XXXV as

I also and when China again becomes a Contracting Party. agree with you that the only basis on which Article XXXV could be invoked is that China is acceding to GATT as though it were a new CP and not resuming the CP status which the ROC surrendered in 1950. The USTR people here are well aware of this and say that the US would be prepared to find itself in a minority of one in defending this positiFp, primarily in order to invoke Article XXXV and thereby be able to continue to keep China's MFN status under constant review. And they expect the new Clinton Administration to be at least as firm on this as past ones.

yours

Peter

PJ A YOUNG

cc (by fax)

I Fletcher

A Murray

Esq

T Furness Esq

Esq

HKD, FCO

ITPla, DTI OT2/2, DTI

W Marris

Esq

FED, FCO

R Madelin

Esq

Ma V Life

UKRep Brussels Washington

200 /200-

C22 "ON

ÞS 25 ÞOL 220

26/21/10

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