TNAG-2917-FCO40-4192-International-support-from-Australasia-regarding-the-future--1993 — Page 130

RESTRICTED

162316

MDTTAN 6639

BE A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THIS.

COMMENT

5.

MR KEATING'S PROPOSAL IS AN EXTENSION OF THE IDEAS HE FIRST PUT FORWARD IN APRIL LAST YEAR WHEN HE LAUNCHED HIS INITIATIVE FOR AN ASIA-PACIFIC HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING. IT REFLECTS AUSTRALIA'S CONCERN TO POSITION ITSELF FOR ANY BREAKDOWN IN THE URUGUAY ROUND AND RESURGENCE OF PROTECTIONISM, IT IS ALSO A RESPONSE TO CONCERNS ABOUT THE GROWING US INTEREST IN BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS CONCERNS WHICH ARE BOUND TO FEATURE IN THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE MINISTER FOR TRADE AND OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT, MR KERIN AND THE US TRADE REPRESENTATIVE, MR KANTOR, WHEN THEY MEET IN WASHINGTON ON 23 FEBRUARY. TO WHAT EXTENT MR KEATING'S INITIATIVE IS PURSUED THEREAFTER WILL DEPEND ON THE OUTCOME OF NEXT MONTH'S GENERAL ELECTION BUT, WITH 60% OF AUSTRALIA'S EXPORTS NOW GOING TO ASIA, WHOEVER WINS CAN BE EXPECTED TO GIVE HIGH PRIORITY TO REMOVING

BARRIERS TO TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN THE REGION.

BARDER

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