TNAG-0144-FCO40-180-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-States-of-America-1969 — Page 104

IV.

Restriction of National Steel Exports between European

and Japanese steel producers on the one hand and the U.S.

steel industry on the other hand, successful negotiations

on national restrictions on exports in the field of

textiles industry might well induce the U.S. Administration

to give an official guarantee for the Steel Agreement.

Final Remarks (Suggestions for a Solution of the Problem)

Any discussion about the possibilities of solving the

problems of America's import policy, should mention the

hope that the trade policy of the new U.S. Administration,

aimed as it is at stability, will soon create a situation

which will enable the American textile industry to achieve

full international competitiveness. Perhaps the question

of introducing import quotas would then no longer be of

relevance.

Moreover, one could suggest, first of all, making an

international comparison (fact finding) in order to ascertain

the present situation in each industrial country as regards

importing wool fibres and synthetic textiles from countries

with low price levels. Such an international "import-burden"

comparison (which we suggest G.A.T.T. should make) could

find out which industrial country is the biggest importer

of textiles. The result of such/study might possibly also

be of use in the discussions to be conducted by the U.S.

Administration in Congress.

a

(Compare the per capita import value for textiles in 1967:

Federal Republic

U.S.A

24.40%

6.90 8')

Irrespective of this, the U.S.A. has the possibility of

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