TNAG-0298-FCO40-334-Entitlement-of-Hong-Kong-to-generalized-tariffs-preferences--1971 — Page 58

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3. Rydfors (Sweden) said Denmark had her legislation and could implement preferences quite rapidly, Finlands bill was under discussion by ministers and would be submitted to the Parliament well before the summer recess. Norway's bill was drafted but was not to be submitted to the Parliament before autumn - much depended on the speed of other countries. Sweden's work on her bill was well advanced and it had to go to the Parliament, for the spring session, by 15 April. Oui.' beneficiaries he could add nothing new: there was no change. Willenpart (Austria) said their constitution required the GATT waiver from the TN rule to be obtained before draft legislation could be introduced in the legislature. They hoped to implement by end-December. They still supported "self- election" for beneficiaries but would only decide finally when they knew what the major donor countries would do Languetin (Switzerland) said the government had agreed the general lines of the message to the legislature and hoped, if all went well, to implement preferences not later than end-December; not. all the decisions were yet taken, particularly on beneficiaries. They still preferred the "self-election" principle. Joyce (Canada) said their legislation might be introduced in the next month or so. The implementation date would very largely depend on that of the USA, He hoped for early government decision on the majority of beneficiaries but some difficult cases would remain unsettled until the whole picture particularly, again, in the US was clearer. Wordlaw (Irish Rep.) said they hoped to implement this year but couldn't be more precise. Legislation was needed. Much depended on the proposals of major donor

countries.

(b) OECD Beneficiaries

•

in an

The delegate for Turkey, supported by those for Greece, Spain and Portugal, ie the OECD's "developing member countries, attack clearly aimed at the US, repeated their claims to 1dc status and the right to benefit fron preferences without exclusión on grounds of according reverse proferences. To that end, the four delegations wanted the Trade Committee to ask the OECD Council to adopt a recommendation which would require the governments of the major donor countries to make known to the Council those of the OECD developing member countries who would be granted preferences by them: the recommendation would also bind those donor countries not to obtain a waiver in the GATT from the MFN rule before they had given the OECD Council the requested information on OECD beneficiaries. of Latin oratory and some counter remarks, particularly by the

After a great deal Japanese delegate, about the practical difficulties of the Turkish proposal, the Chairman proposed that the Trade Committee take note of the proposal for a Council recommendation and record such proposal in its minutes. The Committee agreed to the Chairman's proposal. The Secretariat will almost certainly report to the Council the outcome of the discussion.

(c) UNCTAD Institutional Arrangements for Preferences

5. Reed (Norway) described the position after recent Geneva discussions, within Group B and with the UNCTAD Secretary-General

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