XN000022-1988-12-06 — Page 2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1988

GATT URGED TO SHOW POLITICAL WILL

TOLD

THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, THE GATT MINISTERIAL MEETING IN MONTREAL TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THERE SHOULD BE A "DEMONSTRATION OF THE POLITICAL WILL ΤΟ DEFEND AND DEVELOP THE LIBERAL MULTILATERAL TRADE REGIME" IN THE CURRENT URUGUAY ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS.

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"IT IS VITAL NOT TO ALLOW EXPEDIENCY то PREVAIL OVER PRINCIPLES, HE SAID, URGING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WAY IN WHICH SAFEGUARD MEASURES WERE USED AND DISPUTES WERE HANDLED IN THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE.

REVIEWING PROGRESS IN THE ROUND, MR MACLEOD CONGRATULATED THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT ON ITS COURAGEOUS PROPOSAL TO LIFT RESTRICTIONS ON TEXTILES AND CLOTHING IN 1991.

HOWEVER, HE EXPRESSED

DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE OTHERWISE SLOW

PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS ON LIBERALISING TRADE IN THIS SECTOR.

"THE COMMITMENT ΤΟ STANDSTILL AND ROLLBACK MUST APPLY TO TEXTILES AND CLOTHING AS TO OTHER SECTORS," MR MACLEOD URGED IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE 90 MINISTERS FROM 105 COUNTRIES ATTENDING THE PLENARY SESSION.

MR MACLEOD APPEALED TO PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE REAL PROGRESS IN THE PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND IN THE AREA OF TRADE IN SERVICES, AND TO USE THE MONTREAL MEETING ΤΟ ACHIEVE A BREAKTHROUGH IN NEGOTIATIONS ON THESE SUBJECTS.

HONG KONG HAD BEEN ACTIVE IN THE URUGUAY ROUND IN SUPPORTING ATTEMPTS TO BRING THESE TWO AREAS UNDER MULTILATERAL DISCIPLINE.

LOOKING AHEAD BEYOND MONTREAL, MR MACLEOD EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE ABUSE OF ANTI-DUMPING LEGISLATION BY SOME COUNTRIES AS A MEANS OF PROTECTING DOMESTIC INDUSTRIES.

"THE SITUATION IS BECOMING MANIFESTLY UNFAIR AND IN SOME CASES ABSURD. WE MUST PREVENT THE LEGITIMATE AIM OF COMBATTING DUMPING BEING ABUSED FOR PROTECTIONIST PURPOSES," HE SAID.

HE ALSO URGED ALL DELEGATIONS ΤΟ THE MEETING TO CONSIDER SERIOUSLY THE PROBLEM OF RULES OF ORIGIN, FOR WHICH NO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS EXIST AND WHICH HAVE BEEN USED FOR PROTECTIONIST PURPOSES CONTRARY TO THE SPIRIT OF THE GATT.

MR MACLEOD ENDED ON A NOTE OF OPTIMISM, SAYING: "I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL SUCCEED IN REINVIGORATING THE GATT SYSTEM, AND THAT BY OUR ACTIONS HERE WE SHALL SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT THIS IS 30."

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