XN000022-1985-11-22 — Page 10

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1935

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CANADA TO LIFT IMPORT QUOTAS ON FOOTWEAR

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THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IMPORT QUOTAS ON FOOTWEAR IMPOSED IN 1977 WILL BE LIFTED FROM DECEMBER 1 WITH ONE EXCEPTION.

THE EXCEPTION IS IN THE WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' FOOTWEAR SECTOR WHICH COVERS BOTH DRESS AND CASUAL FOOTWEAR. QUOTAS ON THESE TYPES OF FOOTWEAR WILL REMAIN IN FORCE FROM DECEMBER 1, 1985 TO NOVEMBER 30, 1988. BUT THEY WILL BE GRADUALLY PHASED OUT OVER THIS THREE YEAR PERIOD.

CANADA INTRODUCED IMPORT CONTROL MEASURES IN 1977 FOLLOWING A FINDING BY THE CANADIAN IMPORT TRIBUNAL THAT THE DOMESTIC FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY WAS BEING HURT BY FOREIGN IMPORTS. WAS EXTENDED IN 1981 AND 1982.

THE ACTION

THE RECENT DECISION TO LIFT GLOBAL IMPORT QUOTAS WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT ON NOVEMBER 20 FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY'S POSITION CARRIED OUT EARLIER THIS YEAR BY THE CANADIAN IMPORT TRIBUNAL. THE TRIBUNAL CONCLUDED THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' FOOTWEAR THE INDUSTRY NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED FROM FOREIGN IMPORTS.

IN 1984, CANADA'S FOOTWEAR IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG AMOUNTED T 38.1 MILLION OF WHICH #15.1 MILLION WERE WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' FOOT EAR.

EPA PRESS CONFERENCE

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DETAILS OF A NEWLY-COMPLETED REPORT SETTING OUT ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 25).

IT WILL BE HELD AT 3 PM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, 11TH FLOOR, EMPIRE CENTRE, TSIM SHA TSUI EAST.

YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

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