XN000022-1976-04-15 — Page 7

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THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1976

NEW ARRANGEMENT FOR EXPORTS OF BABIES'

GARMENTS TO THE EEC *****

THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT, IN CONSULTATIONS IN BRUSSELS, EEC AND HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES HAVE CLARIFIED THE EXTENT TO WHICH BABIES' GARMENT ARE COVERED BY THE EEC/HONG KONG TEXTILE AGREEMENT.

THESE CONSULTATIONS BECAME NECESSARY WHEN IT WAS REALISED THAT THE COMMUNITY AND HONG KONG WERE INTERPRETING THE AGREEMENT DIFFERENTLY IN THIS RESPECT,

IT HAS NOW BEEN MUTUALLY AGREED THAT BABIES GARMENTS SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN MOST OF THE CATEGORIES UNDER RESTRAINT. THEY ARE INCLUDED ONLY IN FOUR CATEGORIES CATEGORY 5 (ALL BABIES' KNITTED OUTERGARMENTS), CATEGORY 16 (ALL BABIES' KNITTED UNDERGARMENTS INCLUDING SHIRTS, SINGLETS, UNDERVESTS AND THE LIKE), CATEGORY 20 (ALL BABIES' WOVEN OUTERGARMENTS) AND CATEGORY 21 (ALL BABIES' WOVEN UNDERGARMENTS INCLUDING PYJAMAS, NIGHTDRESSES AND OTHER NIGHTGARMENTS).

WHILE EXPORTS IN CATEGORY 5 ARE UNDER RESTRAINT WHEN DESTINED FOR ANY MEMBER STATE OF THE COMMUNITY, EXPORTS IN CATEGORY 16 ARE UNDER RESTRAINT ONLY WHEN THEY ARE SHIPPED TO THE U.K. OR GERMANY, AND IN CATEGORIES 20 AND 21 ONLY WHEN SHIPPED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM.

THEREFORE WITH EFFECT FROM 5 P.M. TODAY, EXPORTS OF BABIES' GARMENTS IN CATEGORY 5 TO ANY MEMBER STATE, ÎN CATEGORIES 16 20 AND 21 TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND IN CATEGORY 16 TO GERMANY MUST BE COVERED BY +QUOTA+ LICENCES.

THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE CALLING FOR SHIPMENT RETURNS NEXT WEEK IN ORDER THAT QUOTAS CAN BE OFFERED TO COMPANIES THAT SHIPPED BABIES' GARMENT IN THESE CATEGORIES TO THESE MEMBER STATES IN THE PERIOD SINCE JULY 18, 1975, WHEN THE AGREEMENT CAME INTO FORCE.

IN THE MEANTIME, EXISTING QUOTA HOLDINGS IN THESE CATEGORIES MAY BE USED FOR SHIPMENT OF BABIES' GARMENTS.

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