TNAG-0303-FCO40-339-Effects-of-tariffs-on-imports-of-cotton-textiles-to-UK-from--1971 — Page 53

netraft /

New

parn

after &-day

EZZ

&

new tariff.

Governments of the exporting countries concerned have been informed of this. We have asked those which at present administer restrictions at the export end to continue to do so, but we have made it clear that, if they do not feel able to do this, we shall administer them ourselves. All imports of currently restricted cotton textiles from the countries in question will continue to be restricted. We will not licence excess shipments in 1971 in anticipation of the 1972 quotas. A Notice to Importers giving fuller details of the arrangements for importing cotton textiles under quota will be issued shortly.

We believe that in taking this action we are providing the market with safeguards against disruption which will benefit the UK industry and traditional overseas suppliers alike. We recognise that the retention of generel restraints vill come, nevertheless, as a great disappointment to many of our oversees treic partero. I hope they will recognise that the level of these restraints has permitted, cad will continue to permit, importe for higher in proportion to consumption than in any other major industrial country;

and that by establishing a regine combining tariff und quota protection for cotton textiles, we are only doing what every other industrialised country has been doing slready for a long time.