TNAG-0142-FCO40-178-Long-term-policy-on-International-trade-in-textiles-1969 — Page 70

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was one which, as far as I could see, had received wide-

spread support at the recent meeting. It seemed to me to

be only reasonable that, at this stage after the Arrangement

had been in operation for eight years, impɑrting countries

should be prepared to operate only under Article 3 or

Article 4. As regards the question of improvements in the

administration of the Arrangement, I could see the difficulties

involved. It was probably true that, if there was time, the

best way to satisfy exporting countries would be to actually

bake the cake for them in bilateral discussions,

However,

if this proved to be impracticable, if only because of the

time factor, it should not be all that difficult to draw up

some conclusions which could be endorsed by the Committee

and would be read in conjunction with the renewal, ●f the

Arrangement. It might then be possible to put into these conclusions some of the changes (e.g. increased swing, carry-over, anticipation, etc.) which we would ideally like

to see incorporated into the text of the Arrangement itself.

Such conclusions might also contain some sort of declaration

of intent on the part of importing countries to improve the

existing arrangements under Articles 3 and 4, should their

continuance prove to be necessary. I said that this was no

more than a not very well articulated idea which I was

throwing cut on my own initiative, but that it might possibly

be worthwhile looking at it.

8.

Both Salib and Norbom said that they found what I had

said on this to be interesting and that they would consider

it further. But they still seem to be worried about making

adequate preparations for the December meeting. Salib asked

whether it was true that there would not be time for adequate

discussion of new bilateral arrangements as the deadline for

a decision on CTA extension was after all 30 September 1970.

/I replied

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