JAY
Import
Elusive
A Japan, Geneva Parleys
The prospects of the United States solving its textile import problem through interna- tional negotiations seem as clouded as ever. In Japan, a guessing game has developed in the midst of talks on Japanese liberalization of import curbs. In Geneva, extension of the Long Term Arrangement on cotton textiles remains in doubt.
By TSUKASA FURUKAWA
Cable Fairchild News Service®
TOKYO.
How the textile issue will be solved has become a guessing game be- tween the United States and Japan.
The situation is fluid and it appears here that both sides are still jockeying for posi- tion.
Japanese Minister of International Trade & Industry Masayoshi Ohira in his meet- ing with Assistant Secretary of State Philip Trezise Thursday, suggested setting up a multination conference to be attended
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by Japan and other textile ex- porting nations to study "injury" to the United States textile in- dustry from imports of wool and man-made fiber textiles.
Ohira reiterated to Trezise that "It is Proper to seek a so- lution within framework of GATT, according to a MITI spokesman.
He said Ohira told Trezise that he considers it extremely diffi- cult to accept the United States proposal for comprehensive bi- lateral agreement on synthetics and woolens. Ohira's statement was interpreted as a "virtual rejection" by the Japanese press.
The MITI spokesman, when pressed by DNR whether Ohira "rejected" the proposal, he said "No, it is not so." He said Ohira
told Trezise that the Japanese Government's formal reply will be made later, by Oct. 17, at the latest, and Ohira's statement was not a formal reply.
From all indications, there are three possible courses of events of developments.
One is possibility of a bilateral agreement, not on the compre- hensive basis as presently pro- posed, but on a selective basis for restriction of certain key the items that are flooding United States.
There have been many indica- tions from Japanese officials that they are willing to negotiate an agreement if it is selective. But this possibility has so far been ruled out by United States offi- cials because a selective agree- ment would not solve United States problems.
Another possible course could develop at GATT's textile com- mittee now in session in Geneva. that the Belief continues United States may make some move or another at the CTC meeting. In its final session Fri- day. One possibility, which Jap- › aneso sources have not ruled out, is that United States may seek the good offices of CTC to pro- pose either a new agreement on synthetics and woolens, or a mul- tination conference to discuss the ¡ textilo issue.
Finally, there is possibility also that United States may seek this multination meeting not through CTC, but separately.
Trezise will stay here until Saturday.
Japan-United States talks on import restrictions ended Thurs- day with some progress in open- ing the Japan market to United States agricultural products.
United States delegation sources said they were not satisfied with the result but said a basis has been established to carry on dis- cussions on lifting Japan's residu- al Import restrictions at lower levels.
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The Japanese Government said It would speed up liberalization in automobile of investment field. A new schedule is expected to be announced Oct. 17.
Liberalization of automobile Investment will be moved up to fall of 1971, it is reported.
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DAILY NEWS
RECORD 10/10/69.
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