Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume IX, International Development and Economic Defense Policy; Commodities

378. Telegram From the Mission to the European Communities to the Department of State¹

Brussels, November 13, 1968, 1742Z.

10499. Subject: Commission Note Verbale on wool fabric bill (PL 90–638).

1. There follows informal Mission translation of Note Verbale received today from the Directorate General for External Trade.

2. The Directorate General for External Trade presents its compliments to the United States Mission and wishes to inform it of the concern and disappointment experienced by the Community over the promulgation in the United States on Oct. 26 of a law amending the general rule for tariff classification of certain fabrics containing wool. It recalls that the attention of the American Government had already been called to the damage which such a measure would cause to community export interests and to the balance of concessions resulting from the Kennedy Round negotiations.

It regrets that the considerations furnished in support of these representations could not be taken into consideration in order to avoid creating such damage. The Community, faced by the situation created by the promulgation in the law in question, will be obliged to protect its interests at the appropriate time in the framework of GATT.

Complimentary closing, dated November 13, Brussels.

Schaetzel

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, INCO–WOOL 17 US. Limited Official Use; Priority. Repeated to Bonn, The Hague, Luxembourg, Paris for USOECD, Rome, and Geneva for GATT.