§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received from the knitwear industry about the need to extend the multi-fibre arrangement after it expires; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkI met representatives of the knitwear industry on 31 October 1988 to discuss the future of the multi-fibre arrangement and other matters of interest to them. Several hon. Members have also drawn to my attention a statement on this subject issued by the Knitting Industries' Federation in co-operation with other textiles associations. I explained to the industry, and to the House during the debate on the MFA on 9 December 1988,Official Report, columns 553–618, that although the United Kingdom, as part of the European Community, is already committed to examining the "modalities" for returning trade in textiles and clothing to GATT rules, the Community has continued to make clear in negotiations that any such return must be accompanied by a 542W strengthening of those rules and include liberalisation of trade by all countries, including the better of developing countries. This remains the United Kingdom's and the Community's objective in negotiations.
§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will raise in the European Council of Ministers the possibility of maintaining some cross-border scrutiny of knitwear moving within the European Community after 1992, so as to maintain statistical information on imports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthA proposal for an EC Council regulation, which sets out a revised methodology for the collection of trade statistics between member states of the European Community after 1992 to replace the current procedure based on Customs documentation, has been prepared by the EC Commission and will be considered by EC Ministers over the coming months.
Trade statistics will continue to be collected both for intra-EC trade and for trade with third countries. But the level of detail for commodity classification will be the subject of related legislation and will be discussed by a working party of officials from member states later this year. The Government are seeking to ensure that the collection of these statistics does not impose unnecessary burdens on business involved in trade between member states.
§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will raise in the European Council of Ministers the possibility of permitting the expression "Made in the European Community" to be attached to garments made in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received from the knitwear industry regarding(a) the general state of trade at present and (b) the imports of garments from China; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthMy hon. Friend the Minister for Trade and officials have received various representations from the knitwear industry about concerns on the current general state of trade and imports of garments from China.
Negotiations between China and the European Community for a new bilateral textiles and clothing agreement under the multi-fibre arrangement were concluded in December 1988. The text of the agreement reached is set out in the annex to the Council decision 88/656/EEC which is published in the official journal of the European Communities, dated 31 December 1988, reference OJL 318, which is available in the Library of the House.
Full details of the application of the agreement in each member state, in the form of an EEC implementing regulation, are still awaited from the Commission. The agreement has been provisionally applied by the Council of Ministers from 1 January 1989. The agreement will be submitted to the Council for final approval in due course.