UN General Assembly
1962

171. The agreement we are discussing has not been completed; it must be completed and concluded before the end of the year and, let me tell you, this will be done. What will its foundations be? Agreement has already been reached on the principles, aims and objectives of the association. The first requirement is that the discussions should take place between sovereign States negotiating on a footing of equality. The purposes and objectives of the Treaty of Rome are restated and amplified; strengthening of the economic independence of the associated States, since such economic independence is the soundest foundation for their political independence; diversification of the economy and industrialization of the associated States; expansion of co-operation and trade between the associated States and the Community as well as of inter-African cooperation and trade, for we believe that the principles which are valid for ourselves are equally valid for Africa and Asia; agreement in principle on the rules to be applied to trade; introduction of reduced preferential tariffs as from 1 January 1963; the maintenance of prices within the Community; concerted action by the Six and the African States to stabilize the world market prices of the principal tropical commodities.