XN000022-1989-11-15 — Page 30

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1989

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HK HAS PROPOSED GATT ANTI-DUMPING CODE

* * *

HONG KONG HAS TAKEN THE VERY POSITIVE STEP OF PROPOSING. IN

ROUND THE CURRENT URUGUAY

NEGOTIATIONS. THE

THE STRENGTHENING OF GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT) ANTI-DUMPING CODE.

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR T.H. BARMA, SAID THIS AT THE OPENING OF THE INTERSTOFF ASIA 1989 TODAY

(WEDNESDAY).

MR BARMA SAID THAT HONG KONG WAS A STAUNCH SUPPORTER AND IT PRACTITIONER OF FREE TRADE PRINCIPLES AS ENSHRINED IN THE GATT AND DID NOT CONDONE GENUINE DUMPING. WHICH WAS AN UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICE CLEARLY DEFINED IN THE GATT.

NOTING THAT ONE OF THE PRODUCTS BEING OFFERED IN THE EXHIBITION WAS DENIM, HE SAID HONG KONG WAS CURRENTLY

BY A PLAGUED BY SPATE OF ANTI-DUMPING PROCEEDINGS ON ITS PRODUCTS. AND, UNFORTUNATELY, DENIM CLOTH WAS ONE OF THE PRODUCTS BEING TARGETTED FOR ANTI-DUMPING ACTION.

"WE IN HONG KONG ARE MOST ACCUSATIONS OF DUMPING, HE SAID.

"

PERPLEXED AND PERTURBED BY SUCH

MR BARMA POINTED OUT THAT THE LATEST ANTI-DUMPING MEASURES APPEARED TO BE TINTED WITH PROTECTIONIST SENTIMENTS.

"IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE TRADING WORLD SHOULD GUARD AGAINST THE USE OF SUCH MEASURES AS NEW BARRIERS TO TRADE. HE SAID.

ON HONG KONG'S GARMENT INDUSTRY. MR BARMA SAID THE WAS NOW THE WORLD'S THIRD LARGEST GARMENT EXPORTER AFTER KOREA.

TERRITORY ITALY AND

"OVER THE YEARS. HONG KONG GARMENTS HAVE ATTAINED A OF HAVING INNOVATIVE DESIGNS AND HIGH QUALITY, HE SAID.

REPUTATION

FREE OF IN INTERESTED

SOURCES ALL

ECONOMY, HE ALSO NOTED THAT HONG KONG, BRING AN OPEN TARIFF OR NON-TARIFF BARRIERS, HAD ALWAYS BEEN EXPANDING ITS MARKETS AND BUYING MATERIALS FROM THE BEST OVER THE WORLD.

A "THE CHOICE OF HONG KONG AS THEREFORE MOST APPROPRIATE. HE ADDED.

VENUE OF THIS EXHIBITION IS

FROM 23 COUNTRIES ARE TAKING

OVER 200 FABRIC MANUFACTURERS PART IN THE INTERSTOFF ASIA 1989 EXHIBITION.

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