§ Q6. Dr. Gilbertasked the Prime Minister what plans he has to seek to pay an official visit to the United States of America.
§ The Prime MinisterI have at present no plans to make a further visit to the United States.
§ Dr. GilbertDoes the Prime Minister recall that when, before the Summer Recess, I drew his attention to the growth of economic nationalism on both sides of the Atlantic, he tended to pooh-pooh the gravity of the problem? In the light of President Nixon's ruthless package of measures last August, is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to take this matter more seriously and to suggest any initiative which the Government might take to reverse the trend towards protectionism?
§ The Prime MinisterI have always taken seriously the danger of the growth of protectionism in any part of the world. I have long realised the problems which exist. In the Kennedy Round, for the handling of which I was in part responsible when I was at the Board of Trade, we endeavoured to overcome many of the protectionist influences at work, quite apart from individual questions of tariff. On the present position, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is acknowledged to have taken a lead in the discussions in the Group of Ten in an attempt to find an arrangement which is acceptable on both sides of the Atlantic, in order not only to prevent the growth of protectionism but to deal also with some of the obstacles which have recently arisen.
§ Mr. BlakerIs it not clear that on this matter of protection we have a common interest with the six member countries of the E.E.C. in stopping and reversing any tendency towards greater restrictionism? In his communications with President Nixon, will my right hon. Friend make it clear that this is the way in which we propose to work?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. For the last 25 years, ever since the end of the Second World War, we have been trying to expand multilateral trading arrangements, and that is still our purpose.