§ 50. Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the most recent assessment he has made of the likely impact on the United Kingdom cotton textile industry arising from the associate EEC status of Greece and Turkey; to what extent the trade in textiles is covered by the current fundamental renegotiation of EEC membership: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ShoreMy Department maintains a careful watch on the Mediterranean Associate Agreements, including their implications for the United Kingdom textile industry. If imports from Mediterranean associate countries should cause disruption of domestic production the agreements provide for safeguard measures to be taken. Trade in textiles is not a specific issue in the Government's renegotiation of our terms of EEC membership, but we seek equitable GSP treatment for Hong Kong textile exports to the EEC.