Assembly debate on 23rd April 1964 (4th and 5th Sittings) (see Doc. 1732, report of the Economic Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 23rd April 1964 (5th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Recalling Recommendation 380 (1964) on European economic relations and economic Atlantic partnership;
2. Expressing concern over the fact that some of the crucial points at issue in the pre-negotiations for the Kennedy Round have not been definitely settled, although some differences, notably with regard to the disparities problem, have been narrowed down ;
3. Convinced that all issues have now been thrashed out to a point where it is no longer a question of more time being needed for studying various alternatives, but of working out a compromise and reaching agreement ;
4. Welcoming the fact that the industrial countries have recognised the necessity of the Kennedy Round contributing to a substantial increase in the trade of the less developed countries, and conscious that the very principles on which GATT is based may again be called into question by some countries if their justified claims are not met, trusts that real progress in this direction can be made in the Kennedy Round and at the UN Conference on Trade and Development;
5. Expresses the view that :
a the Kennedy Round constitutes a most important test of the solidarity of the West for the establishment of Atlantic partnership, for its own prosperity and for the betterment of living conditions in other less fortunate parts of the world, as well as an opportunity that will not occur again in the near future of mitigating the effects of the European economic division;
b all difficulties in the way of launching the trade negotiations on 4th May 1964 should be resolved, since public opinion would be greatly concerned about any delay ;
c the EEC and EFTA countries must co-ordinate their efforts in the GATT trade negotiations, thus also promoting inter-European trade.
