MY VISIT TO EUROPE, OCTOBER 2-11, 1975

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-284-12-19-3
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 30, 2009
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: October 17, 1975
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection To Declassification 2009/09/30: LOC-HAK-284-12-19-3
CONFIDENTIAL
7HE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230
TtE PPMESID)T HAS SE M
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No Objection To Declassification 2009/09/30: LOC-HAK-284-12-19-3
OCT171975
U ,A T returned from a ten-day visit to
e
SUBJECT: My visit to Europe, October 2-11, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
were of the opinion that our state -90
billion trade turnover in 1976 and a $2 billion trade
This past wee
Europe. The main purpose of my trip was a meeting in
Warsaw of the Fifth Session of the Joint' Polish
American Trade Commission, of which I serve as the
American Co-Chairman. The commission meeting itself
provided the opportunity for a general review of our
bilateral commercial relations which had received a
further spur as a result of your visit to Warsaw in
mid-summer. Although the specific trade issues dis-
cussed within the Commission framework were not of
such significance to merit your attention, both sides
d als of a $1
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important element for the ful C)N FIYnAnk
I F n()C RFI FASF INSTRI IrTIC)NS
wa
J. came a y
viction that Poland will play an increasingly larger
role in the economies of Eastern Europe, based upon
its extensive energy base and relatively large stable
from my four-days in Warsaw with the con-
Poles are particularly looking for war
Butz's visit to Warsaw next month.
--
Polish agriculture is in private hands - an
A to Secretary
g
MY Pr va e
Prime Minister Jaroszewic.z were quite friendly and
wide-ranging. Mr. Gierek spoke with great warmth-and
enthusiasm about your visit, and asked me.to convey
his special greetings to you and the First Lady.
The Poles seemed to take in stride the then temporary
suspension of grain sales,.and now must be gratified
with the recent announcement of the resumption of grain
trading. Agriculture remains a very key element of the
Polish economy -- especially since the vast majority of
d so the
s with First Secretary Gierek and
t meetin
turnover in 1980. were achievable.
ecUL1UULL; {.lG Y ti aw~+?..w.... r _- __- - (APPLY
 No Objection To Declassification 2009/09/30: LOC-HAK-284-12-19-3
CONFIDENRAL
resort to legal protection would lessen
an oppQr un y
government leaders in the united Kingdom. In both coun-
tries leaders expressed concern about what they viewed
as an increasing trend toward protectionism in the United
States. (To a somewhat lesser degree, similar sentiments
were also expressed in Poland.) The most immediate example
cited by these leaders as evidence of a protectionist
trend was, of course, the recently ,filed anti-dumping
petitions involving the automobile industry. .l pointed
out that the United States still strongly favored a
liberal approach in the multi-national trade negotiations,
and that the anti-dumping actions were a reflection of the
downturn in our economy.. i expressed optimism that such
as our economic
Leaving the Socialist world, I met with business leaders
in our Trade Centers in London and in Paris, and I had,
t it for more extensive conversations with
our trade.
encourage more favorable conditions
extend non
goods. They view this as the largest single obstacle
to the development of our rather small bilateral trade.
In contrast to their strong desire for MFN,, the Hungarians
did not press for the extension to.Hungary of Export--
Import Bank credits. The Hungarians were well aware --
and were very appreciative -- of your own efforts to seek
remedial legislation for the. Trade Act.
At the suggestion of Deputy Secretary of State Ingersoll,
I extended an invitation for a visit to the United States
next year to Deputy Prime Minister Szeker and Foreign Trade
Minister Biro. These visits should help to maintain
senior-level contacts' with Hungarian i paders in order to
th rowth of
r
During mY
Minister Lazar and Foreign Trade Minister Biro, along
with the leaders of more than a dozen Hungarian business
organizations. The Hungarians expressed considerable
lament that the United States has been unable (because
of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment to. the Trade Act) to
-discriminatory tariff treatment to Hungarian.
ief stay in Budapest I met with Prime
b
activities expanded.
No Objection To Declassification 2009/09/30: LOC-HAK-284-12-19-3
 No Objection To Declassification 2009/09/30: LOC-HAK-284-12-19-3
trade.
policy may be taking. The economic Summit meeting in
France next month will provide a . useful. opportunity for
you to reaffirm the importance of expanded and more open
I was impressed with the seriousness of the concern in
Europe about the direction which they perceive our trade
-l am sending copies of this report to Secretaries
Kissinger, Simon, Butz and Ambassador Dent.