TNAG-0142-FCO40-178-Long-term-policy-on-International-trade-in-textiles-1969 — Page 146

CONFIDENTIAL

to suggest some amendments to improve the IFA, details might be

discussed by officials of the Departments concerned before the

negotiations started. We remained firmly opposed to the extension

of the scope of the LTA to cover non-cotton textiles. We should

explore informally what attitudes other countries were likely to

adopt on non-cotton textiles and, in the light of their reactions

and at an appropriate stage in the discussions, our Delegation

might suggest that a GATT Working Party might be set up to study

arrangements related to Article XIX which, though concentrating

on textiles, should not be confined to them. Further consideration

would need to be given to the terms of reference of such a Working

Party, and tactics in the discussions would have to be considered

nearer the time. In the meantime, we would have to accept that

bilateral voluntary restraint arrangements would continue to be made.

The Board of Trade, in consultation with the Treasury and the Foreig and Commonwealth Office, should now redraft PC0(69) 17 in the light

of the points made in discussion. He would then arrange for it to be

submitted to Ministers, probably with a short covering note.

The Committee

(1) Invited the Board of Trade, in consultation with the

Treasury and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to revise PC0(69) 17, as indicated in the Chairman's summing up.

(2) Took note that the Chairman would arrange for the revised paper to be submitted to the Ministerial Committee on Commercial Policy,

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CONFIDENTIAL