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(e) It is recognized that premature disclosure of the prospective application, withdrawal, or modification of any restriction under this Article might stimulate speculative trade and financial movements which would tend to defeat the purposes of this Article. Accordingly, the CONTRACTING PARTIES shall make provision for the observance of the utmost secrecy in the conduct of any consultation. 5. If there is a persistent and widespread application of import restrictions under this Article, indicating the existence of a general disequilibrium which is restricting international trade, the CONTRACTING PARTIES shall initiate discussions to consider whether other measures might be taken, either by those contracting parties whose balances of payments are under pressure or by those whose balances of payments are tending to be exceptionally favourable, or by any appropriate inter-governmental organization, to remove the underlying causes of the. disequilibrium. On the invitation of the CONTRACTING PARTIES, contracting parties shall participate in such discussions. Article XIII . Non-discriminatory Administration. of Quantitative RestrictiQns 1. No prohibition or restriction shall be applied by any contracting party on the importation of any product of the territory of any other contracting' party or on the exportation of any product destined for the territory of any other contracting party, unless-the importation of the like product of all-third countries, or the exportation of the like product to all third countries is similarly prohibited or restricted. 2. In applying import restrictions to any product, contracting parties shall aim at a distribution of trade in such product approaching as closely as possible to the shares which the various contracting parties might be expected to obtain in the absence of such restrictions, and to this end shall observe the following provisions:— • (a) Wherever practicable, quotas representing the total amount of permitted imports (whether allocated among supplying countries or not) shall be fixed, and notice given of their amount in accordance with paragraph 3 (5) of this Article : (b) In cases in which quotas are not practicable, the restrictions may be applied by means of import licences or permits without a quota : (c) Contracting parties shall not, except for purposes of operating quotas allocated in accordance with subparagraph (d) of this paragraph, require that import licences or permits be utilized for the importation. of the product concerned from a particular country or source : (d) In cases in which a quota is. allocated, among supplying countries, the contracting party applying the restrictions may seek agreement with respect to. the allocation of shares in the quota with all other contracting parties having a substantial interest in supplying the product concerned. In cases in which this method is not reasonably practicable,