DAILY NEWS RECORD, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1969
མ
NEWS REL
Expect U.S. to Propose Expanded LTA to GATT
By TSUKASA FURUKAWA
TOKYO. The United States may offer an agree- ment covering imports of all textile fibers and apparel at a cotton textile committee of GATT. meeting, accord- ing to Japanese sources.
The meeting, scheduled in Geneva for three days starting Oct. 8, will discuss extension or possible re- vision of the Long-Term Arrangement on cotton tex- tiles.
The Japanese Govern- ment has not made known its position regarding the LTA.
ľ
Shukuro Takahashi, head of the Japanese textile mis- sion to Washington, said on arriving at the Tokyo Inter- national Airport Monday that his mission had noth- ing to do with the Geneva meeting and declined to say anything further.
Takahashi said the United States delegation "indirectly" made known its proposal for a bilateral agreement "in the form of general ideas and hopes."
Pressed further to specify on the content of the United States proposal, he remained silent, and then said, "I must report first to the Minister of International Trade and Industry."
Takahashi, dodging questions from the press, said "Nobody knows" what will happen, when queried by FNS on what actions his Government is contemplating ⚫ following his return to Tokyo.
Takahashi declined to discuss a published report in Japan's largest business daily, the Japan Economic Journal, here quoting
Government sources that the Japanese Government was mov- ing toward considering voluntary controls on certain items, such as knitwear, blouses and dress shirts, that have shown rapid increases in shipment to the United States. "I have no knowledge of the re- port because I just arrived a few minutes ago," he said.
now
The scene is now shifting to Tokyo. It is
believed as almost certain that the textile issue will be discussed on a higher plane between the United States and Japanese officials in the two negotiations between countries on Japan's residual import restrictions to begin here October 7.
'Japanese reactions to Wash- ington talks were also that American sentiment for restric- tion of textile imports was "ar more serious" as one source put it. The fact that U. S. Repre- sentative Wilbur Mills himself had an interview with Takahashi served to impress the Japanese with the serious intent of the Americans.
There is an awareness strong- er than ever in Japanese sources that the United States threat to incorporate restrictive import provisions in the new trade ex- pansion act and to take unilat- eral import restrictive measures
are legislations through longer a "bluff" but Americans now seriously mean business.
no
As noted in these columns pre- viously, it is viewed as certain that a final solution will be worked out at top-level talks between Japanese Prime Min- ister Eisaku Sato and President Nixon in November.
It is expected that Takahashi will confer with ton industry leaders later this week to report
resund O. tu wa u
.S
and to plan a future course of action.
236