§ 26. Mr. Woolmerasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the present state of discussions on the problems posed by imports of textile products from the United States of America.
§ Mr. ParkinsonFollowing a Commission report on its recent discussions with the United States, the Council of Foreign Ministers agreed in March that the issue should be kept high on the agenda of EC/US relations. It instructed the Commission to maintain pressure on the United States Administration over gas price deregulation and over the damage being caused by the high level of United States exports to the United Kingdom. Further discussions are taking place, and I expect a further report at the next meeting of the Council.
The Government have considered against that background the case for unilateral action by the United Kingdom. They have concluded that, on balance, such action would not be the right course at this time. It will, however, continue to keep the situation under careful review.