FOREIGN RELATIONS, 19 5 0, VOLUME I


September 26 with respect to the tariff concessions to be offered and
requested at Torquay, with the exception of the five items covered by
the dissent of the Department of Agriculture.
  The issues involved in the Committee's recommendations on clothing
wool; mohair and hair of the alpaca, llama, and vicuna; wool noils;
grapes; and raisins made from seedless grapes have now been carefully
reviewed. Since the concessions to be negotiated at Torquay will be
subject to termination, after negotiations under Article XXVIII of
the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, at any time after
January 1, 1954, I believe that the concessions recommended by the
Committee can be safely offered, although the Secretary of Agricul-
ture has called attention to potential future problems which may be
particularly serious in the case of the wool items.
  The recommendations of the majority of the Interdepartmental
Committee on Trade Agreements for concessions on the five items
covered by the Agriculture dissent are hereby approved.
  Very sincerely yours,                        HARRY S. TRUMAN


411.003/11-2150
Memorandum by the Secretary of State to Dr. John R. Steelman, The
                    Assistant to the President

SECRET                         [WASHINGTON,] November 21, 1950.
Subject: Proposed Alternatives to the Raw Wool Concession
  There is enclosed aa memorandum:' from the Alternate Chairman
of the interdepartmental Committee on Trade Agreements setting
forth the results of that Committee's consideration of the alternative
to the concession on raw wool recommended in the memorandum to
you from the Secretary of Agriculture, dated November 15, 1950,2
which was referred to the Committee by this Department.
  On September 26, the majority of the Committee on Trade Agree-
ments recommended to the President that the duty on raw wool be
reduced from 251/2 cents per pound to 17 cents per pound. This De-
partment supported the recommendation of the Committee and urged
its approval. On November 14 the President approved the recom-
mendation of the majority of the Committee.
  For a number of reasons I strongly urge that no change should be
made in the offer on wool as approved by the President. Quite .apart
from the question of whether the duty on raw wool should be sus-
pended under Section 318 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which authorizes

  'Not attached to file copy, but see TAC memorandum, November 21, infra.
  'Not found in Department of State files.


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