§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Minister for Trade if he has made representations to the United States' authorities with regard to the effect of their legislation on the legitimate trading interests of British companies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Sproat[pursuant to the reply, 11 March 1983, c. 513]: The Government have in recent years made representations to the United States authorities on a number of occasions about the effects of US legislation on the legitimate trading interests of British companies. A major example last year concerned the US embargo on the supply of equipment for the Siberian pipeline. More recently, we have made representations to the United States about the Export Administration Act, under which the pipeline measures were introduced, and which is up for renewal this year. We are urging the US authorities to amend this legislation so that it no longer provides for extraterritorial application of the kind to which we object.
We have also made representations about the effects of US anti-trust laws on United Kingdom companies in several industries. My hon. and learned Friend will be visiting the United States shortly and proposes to discuss problems of this kind with senior members of the Administration and Congress.