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THEY HAVE, HOWEVER, COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT, AT A TIME WHEN THE BRITISH MARKET IS PECULIARLY VULNERABLE, THE POLICY PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OF REINTRODUCING QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS SELECTIVELY ONLY IF AND WHEN IMPORTS OF PARTICULAR PRODUCTS CAUSE DISRUPTION, IS UNLIKELY TO GIVE THE NECESSARY STABILITY OF MARKET AND EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS, IN PARTICULAR, THEY.
DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IN A SITUATION SUBJECT TO VERY RAPID CHANGE, THEY COULD TAKE ACTION AGAINST DISRUPTION QUICKLY ENOUGH ON A PRODUCT-BY-PRODUCT BASIS. IN FACT, IT HAS ALREADY BECOME
APPARENT THAT ORDERS IN THE PIPELINE, IN ANTICIPATION OF A
QUOTA FREE MARKET NEXT YEAR, ARE AT A LEVEL CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN USUAL.
5. THEY HAVE, THEREFORE, DECIDED TO RETAIN IN 1972 THE EXISTING QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS IN ADDITION TO THE NEW TARIFF. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE TAKEN THIS DECISION ONLY AFTER THE MOST ANXIOUS CONSIDERATION. THEY BELIEVE THAT THE STABILITY THAT THIS ACTION WILL BRING TO THE BRITISH MARKET WILL BE OF VALUE TO OVERSEAS SUPPLIERS AS WELL AS TO THE BRITISH INDUSTRY.
6. IN CHOOSING TO MAINTAIN EXISTING RESTRICTIONS, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE ALSO BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE VIEW THAT THIS IS LIKELY TO BENEFIT TRADITIONAL SUPPLIERS IN 1972: AND WHILST THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT CANNOT OF COURSE ANTICIPATE THE PATTERNS OF RESTRICTIONS APPLYING TO BRITAIN WHICH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION WILL NEGOTIATE FOR THE PERIOD AFTER 1 JANUARY 1973, IT SEEMS .REASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT SOME REGARD WILL BE PAID TO THE PATTERN APPLYING IN THE YEAR IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING UK ENTRY INTO THE EEC. DESPITE UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE BRIISH COTTON TEXTILE INDUSTRY THE QUOTAS FOR 1972 WILL BE INCREASED BY 1 PER CENT AS IN EARLIER YEARS.
DOUGLAS-HOME.
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