Reduction of customs tariffs

Motion for a recommendation | Doc. 383 | 08 July 1955

Committee

Committee on Economic Affairs and Development

Thesaurus

Draft Recommendation

The Assembly,

1. Taking note of the fact that the Trade Agreements Extension Act signed by the President of the United States on 21st June, 1955 authorizes the Executive to reduce American customs tariffs by 15 % over a period of three years and to reduce to 50 % ad valorem rates which are at present above that level;

2. Considering that the Governments of a large number of Member States of the Council of Europe have of recent years made it clear that they could only envisage a further reduction in their own customs tariffs if the United States were to do the same;

3. Considering, moreover, that within the O . E. E. C. a certain number of member countries of that organisation have announced that they would be unable to pursue their policy with regard to the removal of quantitative restrictions so long as a further effort were not made in relation to customs tariffs,

Recommends- that the Committee of Ministers invite the Member States :

a Without delay to take the necessary measures to make the maximum use of the possibilities offered by a general Tariff Conference within the framework of G. A. T. T., in order to bring about effective reductions in the incidence of. their tariffs on intra-European trade;

b When undertaking negotiations to do so in the light of the methods for reducing the present disparity between European tariffs laid down in the Plan for a Low Tariff Club and in the GATT Plan.