Appendix 2
Extract from the Summary Record of the Cotton
Textiles Committee Meeting held
from 8-10th Oct. 1969
123. The representative of the United States, in his statement which is reproduced in full in document COT/W/118, referred to the changes which had taken place in world trade and production of textiles, and the emergence of today's multi-fibro industry. He expressed his Government's major concern on the tromendous surgo of man-made fibro and wool textile imports.
In their view,
the dramatic growth of those imports, which had far out-paced the growth of the United States market, carried with it the same serious problems of market. disruption that oxisted for cotton textile products at the time the Arrangement was negotiated. Action taken by a number of importing and exporting countries to regulate the flow of trade in these goods had the effect of channelling exports to the United States' unrestricted market. situation, therefore, required an international solution.
This
124. The representative of the United States said that his Government fully recognized the importance of this trade to the exporting countries but, while it was prepared to accept a reasonable growth in textile imports, it was determined to ensure that this must be on an orderly basis and that the growth' in the United States markot was shared equitably by both domestic and foreign manufacturers. Overall United States imports of cotton, wool and man-made fibre textiles were at an annual rate this year of 3.7 billion square yards, compared with 3.3 billion in 1968 and 1.5 billion in 1964.
125. There were many people in the United States who felt that the only viable solution to the textile problems they faced should be attained through import .. quotas enacted in legislation. However, the United States Government was of the, opinion that it would be a more appropriate alternative to negotiate an acceptable international arrangement which would establish a reasonable and orderly basis for the development of the United States textile market and for the continued growth of United States textile imports.