·
1985
MINISTERS OF GATT MEMBER NATIONS HAD COMMITTED THEMSELVES IN 1982 TO LIBERALISING TRADE IN TEXTILES AND CLOTHING SECTORS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. YET IT IS PRECISELY THOSE SECTORS WHICH HAVE WITNESSED, AS FEW OTHER SECTORS, A MILTIPLICATION OF PROTECTIONIST MEASURES AND INTENSIFICATION OF THOSE ALREADY IN PLACE,+ SAID THE STATEMENT.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE TEXTILES SURVEILLANCE BODY (TSB) HAD FOUND THAT MANY CALLS ON DEVELOPING COUNTRY EXPORTERS BY THE UNITED STATES WERE UNJUSTIFIED AND SHOULD BE RESCINDED, THE CALLS HAVE CONTINUED.
DESPITE PROTESTS THE FINAL U.S. CUSTOMS REGULATIONS RELATING TO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN RULES FOR TEXTILES AND CLOTHINGS HAD BEEN ENACTED WITH LITTLE CHANGE FROM THE IR ORIGINAL FORM - EVEN THOUGH THE TSB HAD RULED THAT THEY UPSET THE BALANCE OF RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS UNDER A BILATERAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE U.S. AND A DEVELOPING EXPORTER.
+ANOTHER SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN THE U.S. COUNTERVAILING DUTY INVESTIGATIONS ON TEXTILES AND CLOTHING IMPORTS FROM 13 DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. THEIR SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE MFA AND THE INTERNATIONAL TRADING SYSTEM HAVE BEEN REITERATED AT MEETINGS HELD LAST YEAR AT THE GATT, BOTH AT THE COUNCIL AND THE TEXTILES COMMITTEE.
+THE DISCRIMINATORY IMPACT OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS CAN BE GAUGED BY THE FACT THAT BETWEEN OCTOBER 1984 AND MARCH 1985, IMPORTS FROM MFA DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DECLINED BY FOUR PER CENT, WHEREAS IMPORTS FROM NON-RESTRAINED ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES, EXCLUDING JAPAN AND TURKEY, INCREASED BY 35 PER CENT, SAID THE STATEMENT.
MR HAMISH SUPPORTING THE STATEMENT THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE MACLEOD, SAID OF THE JENKINS BILL: +THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE USE OF SUCH BILLS AS A MEANS OF EXTRACTING CONCESSIONS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, PERHAPS INCLUDING COMMITMENTS RELATING TO WHAT SHOULD SUCCEED THE MFA AFTER IT EXPIRES IN JULY NEXT YEAR, CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED.
+UNLESS SUCCESSFULLY RESISTED, SUCH PRESSURES MAY RESULT IN NEW PROTECTIONIST MEASURES WHICH COULD NOT ONLY FURTHER IMPAIR THE EXISTING TRADING SYSTEM BUT MIGHT ALSO NULLIFY ANY FUTURE ATTEMPTS TO RESTORE THE CREDIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MULTILATERAL DISCIPLINES AND TO STRENGTHEN THE LIBERAL TRADING SYSTEM. +
14
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.