WORLD trade faces ''lurking chaos'' unless politicians meet a 30-day
deadline to thrash out a new Gatt agreement, the conference was told.
Emphasising the need for a satisfactory solution to the talks due to
end on December 15, the director-general of Gatt, Mr Peter Sutherland,
said that a succession of political leaders had craftily put off the
''hour of decision'' for more than three years.
He said: ''There has always been something a little more important on
political agendas. Well, no more, this is it.''
However, he recognised the support given by British industry and
successive governments throughout the course of the Uruguay round of
trade talks -- and said his remarks were directed particularly at the
European Union and the United States.
The risk of losing the Uruguay round in a month's time should
concentrate not only the minds of industry and government but their
energies and courage as well.
Asked at a news conference if the December 15 deadline could be
extended, Mr Sutherland said: ''No, this is the deadline of deadlines.''
Mr Martin Laing, chairman of John Laing and chairman of the CBI's
overseas committee speaking for business, urged the negotiators in
Geneva to settle -- not at any price, ''but with what is surely an
attainable maximum possible balanced package.
'' Perfection is not attainable anyway, the consequences of failure
are unquantifiable but certainly a greater risk than a just
settlement.''
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