611.2331/198a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Peru ( Norweb )
Sir: In connection with exploratory studies being undertaken looking toward the possibility of entering into trade-agreement negotiations with all those American republics with which agreements have not yet been concluded, the Country Committee on Peru is engaged in formulating its recommendations to the Trade Agreements Committee regarding the composition of the list of products on which the United States would consider granting concessions to Peru in the event trade-agreement negotiations should be undertaken. This list would, as you are aware, accompany the public announcement of intention to negotiate a trade agreement and would serve notice that in so far as concessions by the United States are concerned, these would be limited to the articles appearing in the list. It is highly desirable that this list, while not including products on which there [Page 536] would appear to be no scope for negotiation for various reasons, should include all articles in which the Government of Peru is interested and which offer a reasonable basis for negotiation. Any additions to the list after announcement of intention to negotiate had been issued could, of course, only be made through a further public announcement, a procedure which it is desirable to avoid.
The Peruvian Government through its representatives in Washington has submitted to the Department a lengthy list of products on which concessions are desired in a trade agreement. A lack of knowledge in Peru of United States tariff classifications or because Peruvian production or exportation is potential rather than actual in the case of a number of products, has made it difficult on the basis of the list as submitted to the Department to assemble all the data desired on various items. Before making its recommendations to the Trade Agreements Committee, therefore, the Peruvian Country Committee is desirous of securing additional information which it is believed the Embassy may be in a position to supply.
There is enclosed a list of the products on which the Government of Peru has requested concessions, which was left with the Department in November, 1940.64 There are also enclosed lists of products:65 which the Country Committee is prepared definitely to recommend to the Trade Agreements Committee for inclusion in a list accompanying any announcement of intention to negotiate with Peru (List A); on which such a recommendation is tentative pending completion of studies by other country committees (List B); which the Country Committee believes should not for various reasons but chiefly because of the probable inability of Peru to produce or export, be included in a published list (List C); and on which further data are needed (List D). The enclosed sheets from the Peruvian Country Committee’s statistical analysis cover the items in List D.
While the Embassy’s views are desired particularly regarding List D, any comments which the Embassy may wish to make regarding the items in the other lists or on other items would of course be welcomed. With regard to List D, it would be helpful if the Embassy could supply information particularly as to the future production or export possibilities in Peru of the items mentioned, together with any comment as to the possible value to Peru of duty reductions or bindings on such items, should a decision be made to grant concessions.
It would be appreciated if the Embassy’s comments on the foregoing could be submitted at an early date in order that the Country [Page 537] Committee may be in a position to make its definitive recommendations to the Trade Agreements Committee as soon as possible.
Very truly yours,