TNAG-0136-FCO40-172-Tariff-preferences-for-developing-countries-1970 — Page 47

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NOTE BY THE UNITED KINGDOM

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The attached submission and illustrative lists of products have been tabled by the United Kingdom to the OECD as indications of the preferential tariff treatment which the United Kingdom was prepared to grant if certain conditions were met. These conditions and the assumptions on which the lists were prepared are given in the attached submission which was tabled to the OECD last March.

In accordance with the agreement reached at the Third Session of the Special Committee on Preferences of UNCTAD, that substantive documentation should be provided to the developing countries not later than 15th November and should contain as much detailed information as would be available at that time, the United Kingdom considers it necessary to annex to the report being submitted by the OECD its March submission and the illustrative lists of products in order that developing countries shall have full information on the arrangements envisaged.

In paragraph 9 of the report of OECD it is stated that the programme of work in OECD, in the course of which each prospective donor country would be able to review its lists and the assumptions on which they were based, has not been completed, and that the information given is still only provisional.

It is apparent from the proposals already exchanged in the OECD that the conditions in the attached submission are unlikely to be met, and that it will be necessary for the United Kingdom to modify the indications previously made. But the information now available does not make it possible for decisions to be taken before 15th November on the form or extent of the modifications that will be necessary.

The United Kingdom will be able to inform developing countries of the modifications which it considers necessary when the programme of work in OECD has been completed. In the meantime the present submission is being tabled as the basis for preliminary consultations with developing countries.

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