TNAG-0134-FCO40-170-Tariff-preferences-for-developing-countries-1969 — Page 24

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non-ferrous metal products, on which there would be no cuto

or cuts of only 20 per cent. A positive list of 60 agricultural

products is expected, with 50 per cent tariff cuts on the

tropical products on the list but no decision on the remainder. The Japanese are likely to want to exclude Hong Kong, Formosa, and South Korea which they rogard as too competitive already

in their market. We have no information about the likely

extent of the U.S. offer but it seems most probable that it

will consist only of a limited cut, possibly 50 per cent, and

to contain a substantial list of exceptions. The Americans

are, howevor, considering putting in alternative offers including

one based on duty quotas on the lines of the E.E.C. offer.

Aspects of Countries' Offers that romain unclear

12.

It will be noted that all the illustrative offers so

far received contain gaps which make assessment difficult and

leave certain questions, notably the nature of the safeguarding

arrangements and the beneficiary countries, no further forward,

In a number of cases the E.E.C., Switzerland, Austria and

Canada there is no precision about the items that would be

excluded. Switzerland and Austria do not even state what

preferences would be offered. It is often not clear whether

all goods in Chapters 25-99 are intended to be covered or

if not, what definition of manufactures and semi-manufactures

is intended. And the E.E.C. do not - and are unlikely to -

identify, the sensitive products to which the quota ceilings

would be strictly applied. There are many question to be

put to the other countries seeking clarification of their offers

before we can be sure what they intend.

Trade statistics and the evaluation of offers

13. One of the principal difficulties in evaluating and comparing

the lists is the lack of statistics.

Countries were asked to

/include