PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEMENT NO. 323
11 September 1974
REFERENCE TO THE TEXTILES AUTHORITY
The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, announced today
that he had sent a reference to the Textiles Authority within
the Industrie-s Assistance Commission covering yarns, knitted
fabrics and towelling. Mr Whitlam said that this action was
being taken as a result of high and rising levels of imports
and an apparent total availability of such goods on the
Australian market substantially in excess of previous levels'.
The goods covered by the reference include acrylic
and wool yarns, warp and weft knit fabrics, and terry towelling
and towels. The reference seeks the advice of the Authority
on whether action should be taken in terms of the GATT Textiles
Arrangement to restrain imports into Australia. The Authority
has been asked to report as soon as possible but within a
maximum period of 60 days. Australia acceded to the GATT
Arrangement earlier this year and as a result of a previous
reference to the Textiles Authority, restraint negotiations have
recently been concluded with several countries on certain
articles of apparel. The Prime Minister emphasised that the question of
whether it would be necessary to have negotiations on the goods
in question with exporting countries would have to await
examination of the recommeldations of the Textiles Authority.
Recent press reports that the GoverE-mrcnt hmad already sought
negotiations with the Japanese Government were not correct.
However, the Japanese Government had been informed recently
that a reference to the Textiles Authority was under consideration.
This had been done in the spirit of the understandkng contained
in the Japan/ Australia Commerce Agreement that where Japan has
substantive trade in particular products Australia would inform
Japan in advance before action such as that now decided upon was taken.
Mr Whitlam said that, although it is not clear to the
Government at this stage that restraint action on all the goods
covered by this latest reference is necessary, he considered it
important that the Government be able to take the initiative in
having investigations undertaken so that action can be taken
promptly if found necessary.
The Prime Minister invited manufacturers and other
interested parties to start preparing submissions now to the Authority
which would announce arrangments for public hearings shortly. / 2
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The Prime Minister also pointed out that should
the need for restraint action emerge from the report of the
Textiles Authority, goods ordered overseas but not shipped would
be subject to the terms of any export restraints that may be
found necessary.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.