§ Baroness Carnegy of Lourasked Her Majesty's Government:
If they will report on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held in Brussels on 10th and 11th March.
§ The Minister of State, (Baroness Young)My right honourable and learned friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and my honourable friend the Member for Wallasey, together with my honourable friend the Minister for Trade, attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 10th and 11th March.
The Commission reported to the Council on their recent discussions with the US Administration on current trade disputes, notably US complaints about the effects on their trade of Spanish and Portuguese accession.
The Council agreed a declaration on the Community's trade and economic relations with Japan, stressing the need to achieve tangible results as soon as possible in order to relieve the increasing strain which Japan's overall surplus is placing on the multilateral trade and payments system. A copy of the declaration has been placed in the Library of the House.
The Council reviewed the work now in hand for the progressive restoration of normal relations between Turkey and the Community. The Council confirmed its intention that there should be a meeting of the Association Council at ministerial level in early autumn.
The Council agreed a mandate for the forthcoming negotiations for renewal of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement. My honourable friend the Minister for Trade will make a separate statement on this.
The Council decided to refer to health Ministers the recommendations of the group of national cancer experts set up following the Luxembourg European Council.