September 9, 1985

Clayton K. Yeutter, the United States trade representative, said today that President Reagan ''almost assuredly'' will veto legislation on textile import quotas that is likely to be the first of some 300 protectionist bills to reach the White House in the current trade ferment. Although the President has declared his general intention to veto protectionist bills, Mr. Yeutter's statement, in response to a question in a televised interview, was the first by any Administration official singling out a specific measure. It was the latest example of a more aggressive trade strategy that is emerging from the White House to counter the growing protectionist sentiment on Capitol Hill. While brandishing the veto threat, the Administration also now plans a more aggressive stand against countries that refuse to open their markets to foreign competition.

The Economy A veto of legislation on textile import quotas is almost assured, Clayton K. Yeutter, the United States trade representative, believes. The bill is likely to be the first of some 300 pending protectionist bills to reach the White House. [Page D1.]

Hundreds of high school girls in New York City and its suburbs, eager for athletic competition, are playing regularly on boys' sports teams. Some of the girls welcome the mixed play as a more formidable challenge, but most would have no opportunity without it. The coed teams are almost exclusively in noncontact sports, such as tennis, cross-country and golf, according to athletic officials in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. ''In these types of noncontact sports, the girls do very well,'' said Robert F. Kanaby, executive director of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. ''If schools can't provide separate programs, the next best thing is for schools to allow girls into these boys' sports.''

As he approaches his second anniversary as chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Robert R. Kiley says he has learned a thing or two about running the world's largest mass transit system. He says he has learned that New York is bigger - much bigger - than Boston. He has learned, he says, that there is more to running a railroad than good management. And, he says, he has learned not to throw away buses without making a phone call first. Mr. Kiley, who used to run Boston's mass transit system, acknowledges that even a man deeply versed in government and politics, Boston-style, can have a lot to learn when he starts dealing with government and politics, New York-style.

International Postponement of a Senate vote scheduled this week on a bill placing economic sanctions against South Africa will be sought by the Senate majority leader, Bob Dole, because President Reagan is expected to agree to put most of them into effect administratively. The expected announcement by Mr. Reagan and the move to delay a vote could avoid a major confrontation between the President and the Republican-controlled Senate. [Page A1, Column 6.] President P. W. Botha opposes reported plans of leading South African business executives to meet with the outlawed and exiled African National Congress. He said such actions were ''disloyal,'' and strongly denied that he had given his approval for such talks with the rebel group. [A8:1.]