HC Deb 04 December 1974 vol 882 c515W
Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the articles in the treaties which, on matters affecting trade, present major obstacles to our current efforts to renegotiate the terms of entry to the EEC.

Mr. Shore

The Government do not at present believe that it will be necessary to seek amendments to the Treaty of Accession or the Treaty of Rome in order to achieve their renegotiation objectives in the trade or other fields. But, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in the EEC Council of Ministers on 1st April of this year, we reserve the right to propose changes to the treaties if it should turn out that essential interests cannot be met without them.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Trade which EEC countries have free trade arrangements with non-EFTA countries or non-associated States; and what is the statutory basis for such arrangements within EEC legislation.

Mr. Deakins

Only West Germany. A protocol to the Treaty of Rome authorises trade between West Germany and the German Democratic Republic to be treated as internal trade.

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