323. Editorial Note
The second through the sixth U.S.-EEC bilateral meetings on agricultural offers in the Kennedy Round at Geneva, September 30–October 14, 1966, were devoted to discussions of offers on a case-by-case basis. For text of Blumenthal’s opening statement at the first of these meetings on September 14, see Document 320. In the second through the fourth meetings, which examined EEC offers on fruits and vegetables, the United States requested deeper tariff cuts; asked for discussions with third countries on the EEC reference price system (protection to maintain the price received by domestic producers); and strongly opposed the variable levy on the added-sugar content of canned fruits and juices. The fifth and sixth meetings concerned among other things the EEC offer on rice, which, the United States claimed, increased protection. Regarding manufactured tobacco, the two sides agreed to treat the Kennedy Round and Article XXIV:6 negotiations in parallel fashion. (Article XXIV:6 refers to that part of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade that provides for compensation to a GATT Contracting Party by a customs union which raises tariffs to a nonparticipant in the customs union above those existing before formation of the customs union, while taking into account tariff reductions to the members of the customs union; see 4 Bevans 721.) The United States expressed its interest in a substantial reduction of protection of manufactured tobacco. (Tagg A–82, October 13, Tagg A–83 and Tagg A–88, October 15, Tagg A–114, October 30, and Tagg A–132, November 8, from Geneva; Department of State, Central Files, FT 7 GATT)