Asian NR producing countries sign agreement

BALI, Indonesia (Dec. 13)—Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have signed the final agreement forming a consortium to limit natural rubber production and raise world prices. The agreement, which creates the International Tripartite Rubber Organization, calls on the three member nations to cut NR production by 4 percent and exports by 10 percent in 2002 and 2003. Between them Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia account for nearly 80 percent of the world's natural rubber.