TNAG-0143-FCO40-179-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-States-of-America-1969 — Page 4

Financial Times

Reference...

29

79)

15th April 1969.

Stans "open table

on non-tariff barriers

BY REGINALD DALE, COMMON MARKET CORRESPONDENT

MR. MAURICE STANS, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, to-day pro- posed an "open table discussion with European countries to work towards the elimination of non- tariff barriers to trade. The aim, Mr. Stans told the Common Mar- ket Commission here, would be to ¡define lists of such obstacles and agree on the most appropriate methods for their removal,

At the beginning of his seven- nation tour of Europe to discuss trading problems, Mr. Stans told a Press conference that such an

་་

open table" would be followed

by discusions that would include all members of GATT. But initial talks would be limited to the U.S. and the Common Market countries. as well as Britain,

Mr. Stans said that it would be remature to conclude that such Hiscussions would be the prelude Yo a 'Nixon round" for non-tariff barriers on the lines of the Ken- nedy Round tariff regotiations. For the moment, the American aim is simply to classify Lastet tariff barriers and decide whether they should be tackled individually or in sectors, bilaterally or on a world basis.

Removal of ASP

For the Commission, M. Jean- Francois Deniau, member respon- sible for External Trade, said this evening that the Community would

BRUSSELS, April 14.

regard the removal of the American ? Selling Price system for chemical imports as a psychological test of U.S. intentions in the whole non- tariff field.

issue had been inflated out of all Mr. Stans said that the ASP proportion to its fiscal and trade significance. But he understood the importance placed on it by the thoroughly with President Nixqg! Europeans and would discuss it

on his return.

Textiles issue

made by Mr. Stans was that a The second major suggestion

fibres and woollen textiles should world agreement for man-made

he negotiated in GATT on the same lines as the present world stressed President Nixon's concern cotton textile agreement. He

industry, principally as a result of over the future of the U.S. textile

spiralling imports of low-cost lextiles,

particularly man-made fibres.

Mr. Stans pointed out that the cotton textile agreement had al- lowed U.S. imports to more than double over the past few years. A similar agreement for the other products could also help to enlarge the American import market. Buf he said that if any better way could be found, it would of course be welcomed by Washington.

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51 16 APR 1969

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