TNAG-0302-FCO40-338-Effects-of-tariffs-on-imports-of-cotton-textiles-to-UK-from--1971 — Page 126

to seek restrictions.

In other words the LTA does not allow for any

cut-back in levels of imports except insofar as may be achieved by

discounting any upsurge in the three months immediately preceding the

application of restraints. The LTA also allows for mutually acceptable restraints to be agreed bilaterally by contracting parties, but

obviously it would be difficult if not impossible to achieve agreed

restrictions that are more stringent than the minimum that any be

imposed under the LTA.

14. Both EFTA and AIFTA envisage the use of emergency action to

restrict imports from member countries only under conditions that are

if anything even more stringent than those laid down in the GATT.

In particular, this means that LTA type restrictions on cotton textiles

probably could not be imposed either against the Irish Republic or

EFTA countries.

15. In imposing quantitative restrictions (or any other restrictions)

on imports of textiles we would therefore be faced with three possible:

courses:

a)

b)

c)

we could impose them within the terms of these agreements

and accept the constraints outlined above;

we could attempt by one means or another to secure the

agreement of other countries to restrictions which fell

outside the terms of these agreements which would mean that

they would not take issue with us for being in breach of

them although our actions would probably be considered within

these bodies at some stage;

we could simply impose restrictions that were in breach of.

these agreements and accept any consequences.

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