HC Deb 15 March 1989 vol 149 cc258-9W
23. Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest round of the general agreement on tariffs and trade.

Mr. Newton

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Waller) on 12 December at column400.

Sir Richard Body

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if it remains the negotiating position of the European Economic Community, after the breakdown of the mid-term review of the general agreement on tariffs and trade, Uruguay round, that the principal of selectivity should be introduced into article XIX of the general agreement on tariffs and trade.

Mr. Forth

The European Community is committed to seeking an improved safeguards clause under article XIX of the general agreement on tariffs and trade, which would permit effective action to be taken subject to agreed tests and disciplines. We consider this will help strengthen the general agreement on tariffs and trade and may facilitate the process of trade liberalisation by providing a more reliable "safety-valve". One of the key issues in the negotiations will be whether safeguard action can be taken selectively. It is the Community's view that this possibility exists. However the Community has not expressed a firm position on this issue in the current multi-lateral trade negotiations, believing it to be important that all options should remain open for discussion at this stage of the negotiations if a comprehensive solution is to be found.