TNAG-0629-FCO40-777-Effect-of-GATT-Multi-Fibre-Arrangement-on-Hong-Kong-negotiat-1988 — Page 151

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27.

An aspect of the working of the TSB that attracted attention during discussions was the possibility of polarization of views among members when developing country problems and restrictions imposed on them by developed importing countries were being considered. With experts of adequate background serving on the Body in their personal capacity, the danger of the polarization would be minimal, whereas an expansion of the Body with representatives designated by Government could well make the Body a replica of the Textiles Committee itself and thus frustrate its role as a conciliatory and recommendatory body. The consensus among several participants appeared to be that nothing much could be done at this stage in regard to the composition of the Body without upsetting the existing balance.

28. Yet another aspect of the functioning of the Body to which some developed countries had taken exception at the Textiles Committee discussions was what they regarded as its assumption of jurisdiction beyond that contemplated in the Arrangement. Participants generally considered that the TSB in making recommendations, as it was obliged to do under the Arrangement, was perfectly entitled to interpret the Arrangement to the extent necessary, especially where divergencies of views existed.

29. Discussions on the negotiating techniques and the attitudes and approach of developing countries in the negotiations occupied a good deal of the attention of the Seminar participants at almost every stage. They stemmed firstly from the concrete and specific points made in the written papers submitted by Hong Kong participants, but acquired special importance by virtue of the experience shared by them with the other participants of their bilateral negotiations under Article 3 of the Arrangement with certain developed countries. Participants heard with great interest the narration of these experiences and thought that they benefitted greatly from them. In this context, the participation in the Seminar of representatives from the private sectors of two members (Hong Kong and Malaysia) helped to throw light on the finer points involved in such negotiations. This sharing of experience was widely welcomed and it was suggested that the machinery of the developing countries in Geneva could be utilised for such continuing exchanges of experience. A suggestion was mooted

in this context for adequate publicity through the press, the television etc., to correct the impression that develop- ing countries were low cost producers, and to counter the other arguments of the developed countries.

30. This led to the general question of how developing countries should participate in the forthcoming renewal negotiations. It was felt that developing countries should as far as possible maintain a unified stand and keep in close and continuous touch during the negotiations, continuing to share their experiences from time to time. While it was arguable that developing countries might find it profitable to press amendments to the present Arrangement in the direction of further liberalisation in view of the

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