HC Deb 04 July 1973 vol 859 cc520-1
13. Mr. Sydney Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to hold official talks with the United States of America Secretary of State.

Mr. Amery

My right hon. Friend will be seeing the United States Secretary of State at the first stage of the Helsinki meeting this week.

Mr. Chapman

As the Helsinki conference is witnessing a new mood of relations between the European countries, does not my right hon. Friend agree that it might be appropriate, on this American Independence Day, to seek to redefine our relations with the United States, particularly in matters of trade agreements, while, of course, ensuring that those relations remain close and cordial?

Mr. Amery

Relations between this country and the European Community and the United States are very close and very good in trade, monetary and defence matters. We want to consider very carefully before we redefine our relations, but we fully accept the proposition put forward by Dr. Kissinger that we must see whether there is any cause to redefine them.

Mr. McBride

In view of the great United States interest in the matter, when the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary meets the American Secretary of State will he seek to erect safeguards against the disruption of United States commodity markets occasioned by the trading policies of the EEC? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that that is important, in view of the implications of the disruption of those markets on prices prevailing in Britain?

Mr. Amery

If the hon. Gentleman is referring to commodity markets in terms of agricultural produce, which I understand him to be, perhaps he will recall that the President has restricted the export of agricultural produce from the United States.