2014 61 Stat. , Pt. 5, p. A14. 61 Stat. , Pt. 5, p. A71. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OTHER THAN TREATIES [62 STAT. that such advantages are not in conflict with the Treaties of Peace arising out of the Second World War. "4. The contracting parties recognize the desirability of increasing freedom of trade by the development, through voluntary agreements, of closer integration between the economies of the countries parties to such agreements. They also recognize that the purpose of a cus- toms union or of a free-trade area should be to facilitate trade between the parties and not to raise barriers to the trade of other contracting parties with such parties. "5. Accordingly, the provisions of this Agreement shall not prevent, as between the territories of contracting parties, the formation of a customs union or of a free-trade area or the adoption of an interim agreement necessary for the formation of a customs union or of a free- trade area; Provided that: (a) with respect to a customs union, or an interim agreement leading to the formation of a customs union, the duties and other regulations of commerce imposed at the institution of any such union or interim agreement in respect of trade with contracting parties not parties to such union or agreement shall not on the whole be higher or more restrictive than the general incidence of the duties and regulations of commerce applicable in the con- stituent territories prior to the formation of such union or the adoption of such interim agreement, as the case may be; (b) with respect to a free-trade area, or an interim agreement leading to the formation of a free-trade area, the duties and other regulations of commerce maintained in each of the constituent territories and applicable at the formation of such free-trade area or the adoption of such interim agreement to the trade of contracting parties not included in such area or not parties to such agreement shall not be higher or more restrictive than the corresponding duties and other regulations of commerce existing in the same constituent territories prior to the formation of the free-trade area, or interim agreement, as the case may be; and (c) any interim agreement referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) shall include a plan and schedule for the formation of such a customs union or of such a free-trade area within a reasonable length of time. "6. If in fulfilling the requirements of sub-paragraph 5 (a), a con- tracting party proposes to increase any rate of duty inconsistently with the provisions of Article II, the procedure set forth in Article XXVIII shall apply. In providing for compensatory adjustment, due account shall be taken of the compensation already afforded by the reductions brought about in the corresponding duty of the other constituents of the union. "7. (a) Any contracting party deciding to enter into a customs union or free-trade area, or an interim agreement leading to the forma- tion of such a union or area, shall promptly notify the CONTRACT- ING PARTIES and shall make available to them such information
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