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arbitrary or fictitious prices. The EC supported, stressing the intrusion into its confidentiality and the shifting of responsibility from Customs authorities but the issue went wider than the Agreement. Australia, Korea and Sweden expressed concern and Brazil, Argentina and Japan wanted the issue kept on the agenda. Though invited to do so, no LDC observers spoke. The Chairman invited countries to obtain the views of their industries and present arguments in writing
by 30 March, for discussion at the next meeting.
ANNUAL REPORT TO CONTRACTING PARTIES
8. The Annual Report conveying a tone of satisfaction with the Agreement was approved without demur.
ACCESSIONS
9.
Lesotho and Argentina gave further information on imple- menting their accession. Portugal's withdrawal as an individual signatory on its accession to the EC was noted. Spain showed continued reluctance to follow this course, apparently for fear of US action if logically it did so also under the Subsidies Agreement.
IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENT
10.
Czechoslovakia, South Korea and Brazil presented lengthy
statements on new measures. These will be examined at the next meeting.
TREATMENT OF SOFTWARE AND INTEREST CHARGES
11. The EC and US resisted dropping these from the agenda as some signatories had still to notify the practices they were adopting.
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