DATE=1/31/95

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-173287

TITLE=U-S / EUROPE (L ONLY)

BYLINE=JANE BERGER

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION'S EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMISSIONER, SIR

LEON BRITTAN, HAS CONCLUDED TALKS IN WASHINGTON WITH SENIOR

OFFICIALS OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND THE NEW REPUBLICAN

LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS. CORRESPONDENT JANE BERGER REPORTS MR.

BRITTAN'S TALKS IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK CENTERED ON ECONOMIC

ISSUES.

TEXT: MR. BRITTAN TOLD REPORTERS HIS TALKS CENTERED MAINLY ON

WAYS TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND SECURITY TIES WHILE

THE OVERALL SITUATION IN EUROPE CONTINUES TO CHANGE. BUT HE SAID

THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION OF A DISPUTE WITH THE UNITED STATES

ABOUT EUROPEAN BANANA IMPORTS. THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS RESTRICTED

IMPORTS OF BANANAS FROM LATIN AMERICAN PLANTATIONS OWNED BY U-S

COMPANIES, AND THE UNITED STATES HAS THREATENED RETALIATORY

ACTION.

MR. BRITTAN SAID THE TWO SIDES ARE CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS, BUT HE

INDICATED EUROPE WILL NOT BACK DOWN.

// BRITTAN ACT //

WE HAVE AGREED TO CONTINUE THE TALKS THAT ARE ALREADY

TAKING PLACE, TO SEE IF ANY KIND OF ACCOMMODATION CAN BE

MADE. IT WOULD BE AN ILLUSION TO THINK THAT THE

FUNDAMENTAL NATURE OF THE REGIME THAT HAS BEEN SET UP IS

ONE THAT WE WOULD CONTEMPLATE CHANGING. BUT NONETHELESS

WE RECOGNIZE THE CONCERNS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND WILL

SEE WHETHER, WITHIN THAT CONTEXT, IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO

ANYTHING TO HELP.

// END ACT //

MR. BRITTAN SAID THE TWO SIDES ARE ALSO CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS ON

THE SELECTION OF A DIRECTOR FOR THE NEW WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION,

OR W-T-O. HE SAID THE UNITED STATES IS CONTINUING ITS SUPPORT

FOR FORMER MEXICAN PRESIDENT CARLOS SALINAS DE GORTARI, WHILE THE

EUROPEANS ARE BACKING FORMER ITALIAN TRADE MINISTER RENATO

RUGGIERO. THE EUROPEAN OFFICIAL SAID HE HOPES A CANDIDATE CAN BE

AGREED UPON WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

MR. BRITTAN SAID BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE HAVE MANY

COMMON INTERESTS IN THE YEARS AHEAD, WHICH INCLUDE AN UNFINISHED

TRADE AGENDA WITH JAPAN, AND EFFORTS TO BRING CHINA INTO THE

GLOBAL ECONOMY. HE SAID CHINA IS LIBERALIZING ITS INTERNAL

ECONOMY, BUT HAS NOT YET GONE FAR ENOUGH TO MEET THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE W-T-O.

// BRITTAN ACT //

WE HAVE A COMMON INTEREST IN ENSURING THAT CHINA

CONTINUES THE PROCESS OF INTERNAL LIBERALIZATION

ECONOMICALLY, BUT ALSO TAKES REGARD TO OUR CONCERNS ON

HUMAN RIGHTS. AND WE HAVE AN INTEREST IN ENSURING THAT

CHINA IS SUBJECT TO THE DISCIPLINES OF INTERNATIONAL

TRADE FOR HER OWN BENEFIT AND FOR OURS.

// END ACT //

MR. BRITTAN SAID BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE MUST RECOGNIZE

THAT THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN CHINA IS UNCERTAIN. HE SAID

DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FACES, BOTH THE

UNITED STATES AND EUROPE MUST CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR FURTHER

ECONOMIC REFORMS AND EVENTUAL CHINESE MEMBERSHIP IN THE WORLD

TRADING COMMUNITY. (SIGNED)

NEB/JB/CF

31-Jan-95 1:39 PM EST (1839 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America