Israeli negotiators told representatives of the European Economic Community today that Israel could not accept the proposals offered last week by the EEC for a severely limited arrangement covering a minimal number of exports to the six nations of the European Common Market.
In negotiations last week, the EEC negotiators ruled out any special association for Israel with the Common Market and proposed instead some tariff cuts on grapefruit, bathing suits and fertilizers. The EEC negotiators also proposed formation of a joint committee to review regularly specific cases of painful tariff pressures on Israeli exports to the six nations. Despite the EEC position, negotiations were continued in an effort to find some means of liberalizing the proposals.
The Israeli experts proposed today some special arrangements for a number of exports which are now being affected by EEC tariff schedules, particularly bromine and oranges, the latter being one of Israel’s major exports to the six nations. They also proposed some other technical changes in acceleration of customs reductions and liberalization. At the same time they argued that the most simple and best solution was “the global solution, ” referring to earlier Israeli hopes for some sort of preferential arrangement for many or most of the 200 items exported to Euromart.
It was understood that the Israelis advanced the counter-proposals to indicate to the EEC the sincere wish of Israel to abide by the decision of the Council of Ministers, the chief ruling organization of the EEC, which barred an overall arrangement for Israel.
Following submission of the counter-proposals, the EEC negotiators indicated they wanted additional explanations and the Israelis prepared to work during the night to have material ready for the next working session tomorrow afternoon. While substantive progress was slight today, the EEC experts expressed satisfaction that the Israeli delegation was ready to put forth counter-proposals so soon after the indication that a special Israel-Euromart arrangement would not be forthcoming.
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