Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 61 Part 4.djvu/861

 4210 Intemational trade. Policies of French Government. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [61 STAT. DECLARATION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC ON COMMERCIAL POLICY AND RELATED MATTERS The Government of the United States of America and the Pro- visional Government of the French Republic, having concluded com- prehensive discussions on commercial policy and related matters, find themselves in full agreement on the general principles which they desire to see established to achieve the liberation and expansion of international trade, which they deem to be essential to the realization of world-wide prosperity and lasting peace. The French Government has made known to the United States Government the measures which it has taken and intends to take to make possible the attainment of this common objective. The French Government has also made known to the United States Government its plan for the reconstruction and modernization of the French econ- omy. In accordance with the letters exchanged on November 8, 1945, the two Governments have examined this plan and have agreed that the attainment of its objectives should make possible full participa- tion by France in the cooperative achievement of an expanding world economy. The two Governments have studied the problems involved in the construction of a general framework for world trade and have also examined a number of specific questions relating to commercial policy and other matters which are of interest to themselves and to other countries. The following joint statement by the two Governments summarizes the understandings reached in these discussions. I The two Governments are in complete agreement, at all important points, on the principles expressed in the "Proposals for Consideration by an International Conference on Trade and Employment" sub- mitted to the French Government by the Government of the United States. They have therefore resolved to continue discussions between themselves and with other like-minded countries in order to give effect to these principles in the Charter of the proposed International Trade Organization. The two Governments are of the opinion that the prior conclusion of agreements among the major trading nations of the world for the substantial reduction of tariffs and other barriers to trade and for the removal of discriminatory arrangements would contribute greatly to the success of the World Conference. II The French Government has advised the United States Government of the following policies: (a) A new French tariff is being prepared which will contain ad valorem duties only and which will not increase the degree of pro- tection over the level which existed prior to the war. This new

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