§ Dr. Summerskillasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement concerning the consideration by European Economic Community Ministers of the latest report on the Commission's talks with the United States Administration about the increase of American textile imports into the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Parkinson[pursuant to his reply, 23 March 1981, c. 218]: At the Council of Foreign Ministers of the 332W European Community held on 17 March the Commission presented a report of its recent discussions. Since it took up office in January the new United States Administration has deregulated oil prices and has announced its intention to remove export controls on certain types of naphtha and its wish to accelerate the deregulation of gas prices. The appreciation of the dollar against sterling in the past few months has also improved the competitive position of British manufacturers.
The Council of Foreign Ministers agreed unanimously that this issue should be kept high on the agenda of European Community/United States relations. In particular, it invited the Commission to pay special attention to maintaining pressure for the deregulation of gas prices and to the damage being caused by the high level of United States exports to the United Kingdom. Further high-level discussions are planned in the coming weeks, and I expect a further report from the Commission at the April meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers.