TNAG-0387-FCO40-433-Exports-of-non-cotton-textiles-from-Hong-Kong-to-the-EEC-1973 — Page 14

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6. AGAT T TEXTILES WORKING PARTY NOW HAS A MANDATE TO NEGOTIATE A NEW MULTI-FIBRE TEXTILE AGREEMENT TO REPLACE THE LTA. WE SHOULD ACCORDINGLY LIKE TO USE THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE CONSULTATIONS TO DISCUSS RESTRAINT LEVELS FOR COTTON TEXTILES AS WELL AS POLYESTER/ COTTONS, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF LIMITED TRANSFERS BETWEEN THE CEILINGS FOR EACH FIBRE. IN THIS CONNECTION, WE RECOGNISE THAT THE PRESENT ANNUAL QUOTA LEVEL FOR COTTON TEXTILE EXPORTS TO THE UK (21,442 SQ YDS FOR THAILAND AND 491,333 SQ YDS FOR COLOMBIA) IS LOW IN RELATION BOTH TO EXPORT POTENTIAL AND TO THE TOTAL OF OUR IMPORTS OF COTTON TEXTILES FROM ALL SOURCES. YOU MAY INFORM THE AUTHORITIES THAT IN THIS CONNECTION, AND DESPITE OUR CONTINUED HIGH IMPORT PENETRATION (WE IMPORT MORE THAN ANY OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPED COUNTRY), WE SHALL BE WILLING TO CONSIDER WHETHER SOME USEFUL IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR COTTON TEXTILE EXPORT QUOTAS MIGHT NOT, AFTER ALL, BE POSSIBLE.

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