GATT/AIR/UNNUMBERED 13 FEBRUARY 1989

SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES - ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW SCHEDULE LXXV

AT ITS MEETING ON 8-9 FEBRUARY, THE COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES CONSIDERED A REQUEST FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES FOR A TEMPORARY EXEMPTION FROM ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER ARTICLE II OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 1989, IN ORDER TO ALLOW IT TO IMPLEMENT THE HARMONIZED SYSTEM (L/6461).

THE COUNCIL AGREED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CONTRACTING PARTIES THAT THE TEMPORARY EXEMPTION BE GRANTED AND APPROVED A DRAFT DECISION TO THAT EFFECT. THE COUNCIL RECOMMENDED THAT THE DRAFT DECISION BE ADOPTED BY POSTAL BALLOT.

MANY REPRESENTATIVES ATTENDING THE MEETING REGISTERED THEIR VOTE ON

..... BEHALF OF THEIR GOVERNMENTS. A COPY OF THE PHILIPPINES REQUEST (L/6461) ..... AND THE DRAFT DECISION (C/W/578), AS WELL AS A BALLOT PAPER, ARE HEREWITH

DISTRIBUTED TO CONTRACTING PARTIES WHICH WERE NOT REPRESENTED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING.

CONTRACTING PARTIES ARE REQUESTED TO CAST THEIR VOTE ON THE DECISION AND TO RETURN THE COMPLETED BALLOT BY 13 MARCH 1989.

A. DUNKEL

89-0213