39

(c) In the case of quotas allocated among supplying countries, the Member applying the restrictions shall promptly inform all other Members having an interest in supplying the product concerned of the shares in the quota currently allocated, by quantity or value, to the various supplying countries and shall give public notice thereof. (d) If the Organization finds, upon the request of a Member, that the interests of that Member would be seriously prejudiced by giving, in regard to certain products, the public notice required under subparagraphs (b) and (c) of this paragraph, by reason of the fact that a large part of its imports of such products is supplied by non-Member countries, the Organization shall release the Member from compliance with the obligations in question to the extent and for such time as it finds necessary to prevent such prejudice. Any request made by a Member pursuant to this subparagraph shall be acted upon promptly by the Organization. 4. With regard to restrictions applied in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 (d) of this Article or under the provisions of paragraph 2 (c) of Article 20, the selection of a representative period for any product and the appraisal of any special factors affecting the trade in the product shall be made initially by the Member applying the restrictions; Provided that such Member shall, upon the request of any other Member having a substantial interest in supplying that product, or upon the request of the Organization, consult promptly with the other Member or the Organization regarding the need for an adjustment of the proportion determined or of the base period selected, or for the re-appraisal of the special factors involved, or for the elimination of conditions, formalities or any other provisions established unilaterally with regard to the allocation of an adequate quota or its unrestricted utilization. 5. The provisions of this Article shall apply to any tariff quota instituted or maintained by any Member and, in so far as applicable, the principles of this Article shall also extend to export restrictions. Article 23 Exceptions to the Rule of Non-discrimination 1. (a) The Members recognize that the aftermath of the war has brought difficult problems of economic adjustment which do not permit the immediate full achievement of non-discriminatory administration of quantitative restrictions and therefore require the exceptional transitional period arrangements set forth in this paragraph. (b) A Member which applies restrictions under Article 21 may, in the use of such restrictions, deviate from the provisions of Article 22 in a manner having equivalent effect to restrictions on payments and transfers for current international transactions which that Member