282. Editorial Note
At the GATT Ministerial meeting held at Geneva May 16-21, 1963, U.S. and EEC representatives compromised on their disagreement on the rules that should govern tariff reductions for the Kennedy Round GATT negotiations scheduled to begin May 4, 1964. The Ministers agreed that the tariff negotiations would be “based upon a plan of substantial linear tariff reductions with a bare minimum of exceptions,” reflecting the U.S. view. At the same time, they declared that “in these cases where there are significant disparities in tariff levels, the tariff reductions will be based upon special rules of general and automatic application,” reflecting the EEC position. The conference established a Trade Negotiation Committee (TNC) to reach agreement on the details of the negotiating rules by [Page 608] August 1, 1963, effectively postponing a resolution of the two opposing tariff plans. The text of the Ministerial resolution, “Principle and Procedures for Conducting Comprehensive Trade Negotiations Beginning at Geneva, May 4, 1964,” is printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1963, pages 1126-1129. The U.S.-EEC accommodation is discussed and summarized in Current Economic Developments, Issue No. 676, May 28, 1963, pages 1-6. (Washington National Records Center, E/CBA/REP Files: FRC 72 A 6248, Current Economic Developments)