Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and the Ambassador of Cuba

003456 TIAL DEPARTMENT OF STATE 639 S/S Memorandum of Conversation 218 DATE: August 1,1949 SUBJECT: Views of the Cuban Government Regarding Tariff Preference Margins Now under Discussion at Annecy. PARTICIPANTS: The Secretary Señor Dr. Oscar Gans, Ambassador of Cuba CRB - Mr. Desvernine ARCHIVES "HATIONAL RECORDS AND SERVICE" COPIES TO: ARA - Mr. Barber ITP CP U.S. Delegation, GATT, Annecy American Embassy, Habana (informally) 1-1492 The Cuban Ambassador called by appointment made at his request and S tated that he had been instructed to bring to my attention the views of his Government regarding possible changes in the tariff margins of preference enjoyed by Cuba, which are now being discussed at Annecy. He said that the Cuban Government interpreted Article 30 of the General Agree- ment on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) as providing that no changes may be made in any of the tariff rates listed in the schedules annexed to Part 1, and no additions made to said lists, with- out the unanimous consent of all the contracting parties. The Ambassador pointed out that the Cuban Government could not consent to a reduction in the margin of preference on sugar and other items at Annecy (resulting from a reduction in the most favored nation rates on such items) because of the grave political considerations involved. He added that the Communists were openly accusing the Government of "selling out" to the United States on this question and that other political opponents of the Administration would play up the theme to dangerous proportions. The Ambassador said that several of the delegations at Annecy agreed wi th the Cuban view, regarding Article 30 of GATT DECLASSIFIED É. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, 27-23-37 AQMEIT By NLT- HC, NARS Date 4.27.76