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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1987
PROGRESS IN URUGUAY TRADE TALKS IMPORTANT: STI
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, HAS UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING PROGRESS IN THE URUGUAY ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS.
MR MACLEOD WAS STATING HONG KONG'S VIEWS ON THE WORK OF THE GATT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF GATT MEMBERS IN GENEVA EARLIER THIS WEEK.
TO
MR MACLEOD ALSO EMPHASISED THE NEED NOT ONLY TO IMPROVE GATT RULES, BUT ALSO TO DO ALL THAT WAS POSSIBLE TO ENCOURAGE ADHERENCE THE RULES.
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"THE GAP BETWEEN THE RHETORIC AND THE REALITY IS DANGEROUSLY WIDE. IT IS AS IMPORTANT TO USE THE URUGUAY ROUND ΤΟ REVIVE SOME IDEALISM, SOME WILLINGNESS TO ADHERE TO THE RULES AND TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK, AS TO USE IT TO IMPROVE THE RULES THEMSELVES.
STAGE. AND
"IN THIS CONTEXT TRADE IN GOODS IS STILL AT CENTRE THE ESSENTIAL TASK IS TO MAKE THE STANDSTILL AND ROLLBACK COMMITMENTS WORK, IN A RATIONAL, CONSTRUCTIVE AND UNTHREATENING MANNER.
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THE
HE WENT ON TO DEFEND GATT AGAINST SOME OF THE CRITICISMS LEVELLED AGAINST IT BY REFERRING TO TWO POINTS WHICH ILLUSTRATED GATT'S KEY ROLE IN THE CURRENT SITUATION.
"FIRST, MORE GATT PANELS HAD BEEN CONVENED DURING THE PAST YEAR THAN AT ANY TIME IN THE GATT'S 40-YEAR HISTORY, CLEARLY NOT SUGGESTING ANY LOSS OF FAITH IN THE ABILITY OF THE GATT TO HELP SOLVE TRADE DISPUTES.
"SECONDLY, THE VERY EXISTENCE OF THE URUGUAY ROUND AND THE OBVIOUS COMMITMENT OF PARTICIPANTS IN IT TO MAKE REAL PROGRESS DEMONSTRATED THE GATT WAS STILL AN EFFECTIVE FORUM FOR MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS,"
THAT SAID, MR MACLEOD WARNED: "WE SHALL RIGHTLY BE JUDGED BY HOW WE ACT, NOT JUST BY HOW WE SPEAK.
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