§ Mr. Marlow asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether his statement in his speech to the Trade Policy Research center on 1 July, that there was no virtue in a trade policy which did riot recognise that protection from imports might sometimes be necessary, was intended to apply to imports from the European Economic Community; and what measures he is considering to implement this trade policy.
§ Mr. Peter Rees [pursuant to his reply, 29 October 1981]: The Government have always been prepared to consider recourse to protective measures against imports in particular cases where these are consistent with our international obligations; and we shall continue to consider individual cases on their merits. The firm line the Government are taking in the current international discussions on the problem of low-cost textile imports is evidence of our pragmatic approach to this difficult area of trade policy.
§ Trade within the Community needs to comply with the competition rules of the Treaty of Rome. Where these rules have been observed, it is not possible for us to take protective action against imports from other member States, nor can they take action against our exports to them. We are always ready to examine any alleged breaches of the rules with a view to taking such cases up with the Commission.