§ 18. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has had from the United States Government to the representations made by himself and other European Community Foreign Ministers against proposed United States legislation affecting the trading activities of United Kingdom and other European firms.
§ Mr. PymThe Government would like the extra-territorial provisions of the United States Export Administration Act to be removed. We have made our views known very clearly to the Americans, and the European Community has also raised the matter with the United States.
The Bill is now under discussion in the Congress. We are taking every opportunity to ensure that our concern is brought to the attention of the United States Administration and Congress.
§ 29. Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has assessed the effect on British interests of proposed American legislation on the operation of United States companies in Europe; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PymThe Export Administration Act, which is due to be reauthorised by Congress by the end of September, is an enabling Act. It is impossible at this stage to quantify its likely effect in practice, but, judging by the effects of the use made of the present Export Administration Act, for example in the case of the Siberian pipeline, it is likely to be damaging to British trading interests.