TNAG-0172-FCO40-208-United-Kingdom-Productivity-and-Efficiency-Study-effect-on-H-1969 — Page 114

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effective choice is therefore between a continuation of the quotas

in some form and a tariff on the lines of paragraph 2 (1) above.

10.1 The Textile Council came down in favour of a tariff principally because: (1) they recognised that the effectiveness of the quotas

was likely to diminish au consumption of cotton textiles declined;

(ii) a tariff would concentrate imports in sectore where the United

Kingdom industry was less efficient, with consequent encouragement

of the production of those goods for which our industry has a relative advantage and (iii) the margin of protection under a

tariff is both stable and predictable. Thus a tariff on imports

from the Commonwealth in the view both of the Textile Council and

the Board of Trude, would restore confidence in the industry in a

way which quotas (as described in paragraph 7 above) have not

succeeded in doing and would stimulate the investment required to

make the industry competitive.

11.

Other advantages seen for the tariff solution are that:

a) the stimulus to efficiency would be greater under the tariff: there would be increased pressure to close down the inefficient units;

b) increased revenue from the tariff of at least £10 n. could be expected;

c) the landed price of imports would be lower/under the quota system while prices to the consumer might be about the same or slightly lower;

because of provided the

d) the estimated gain to the balance of trade in cotton téxtiles (largely as a result of the reduction in prices) is put at 212 Millio. per antuk. the of mamente could be suportat bol.or than thio

gain to tho i Lunce the better distribution of national resources imposition.ct the tariff ölü not result in a loss of exports as a result of retaliation and/or the reduction in purchasing power of the developing countries generally. Any such losacs cannot be quantified.

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