2
products. The UK strongly supports further increases in the GSP
quotas for plywood (al1 ASEAN except Thailand affected) but some
other Member States have production interests, and will seek to
limit any increase for 1983. For agricultural products the Commission have proposed addition of 9 new products and improved
preferential margins for 18 others. The UK favours further
liberalisation but some other Member States have difficulties
in the agricultural sector. The Commission proposals for textile
products aim to provide for some limited liberalisation taking into
account the proposed changes for 1983 under the Multi-Fibre
Arrangement (MFA). All the ASEAN countries have Bilateral
Agreements with the Community under the present MFA and are thus
full beneficiaries of the 1982 Textiles GSP. Their beneficiary
status for MFA textiles under the 1983 GSP may be dependent on the
outcome of current negotiations under the MFA [Separate brief].
(4)
Specific Background
(i) Indonesia makes substantial use of the GSP. In
1980 50% (£28.4m) of her total imports into the UK (£57.0m)
came in under the GSP. 75% of the GSP imports were agricultural products (mostly pepper, palm oils and tobacco) and much of the remainder were of plywood.
(ii) Malaysia used the GSP for 38% (£70.0m) of her total
imports (£187.1m) to the UK in 1980. Two-thirds of the GSP
imports were of agricultural products (mostly palm oils,
pineapple and fish products) and the bulk of the remainder
were of plywood and rubber products. Malaysia is subject to
a GSP quota for certain footwear products in addition to the
plywood quota.
(iii) Philippines UK total imports in 1980 were £99.0m and of
these 25.5% (£25.2m) were admitted under the GSP. About
one third of the GSP imports were of agricultural products (mostly coconut and coconut oils) and a further third of the
GSP imports were of plywood.
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