General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

HC Deb 27 March 1985 vol 76 cc217-8W

31. Mr. Gerald Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with his European Economic Community counterparts on a new general agreement on tariffs and trade round.

Mr. Channon

My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary reported to the House on 25 March that the EC Foreign Affairs Council of 17–21 March had considered, inter alia, the Community position on a new GATT round. I attended the discussion of this topic between the Trade Ministers of the Ten. The Community declared its readiness to participate in the launching of a new round, subject to the establishment of an adequate prior international consensus on objectives, participation and timing.