§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals have been put forward by the United Kingdom to the Uruguay round of discussions within the general agreement on tariffs and trade to ensure environmental protection considerations are included in the trade agreements reached; and what existing mechanisms and programmes exist within GATT to take into account the environment.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe European Commission negotiates on behalf of the Community in international trade negotiations and the United Kingdom contributes to the formation of Community policy.
GATT already provides for exceptions from the standard rules which permit member countries to take action for the purposes. among others, of environmental protection. A GATT working party on trade and the environment has been reactivated and will start work shortly.
In the Uruguay round of multilateral trade negotiations consideration is being given to permitting agricultural subsidies for environmental purposes. Separately from the round, a GATT working party is close to agreement on criteria for regulating the export of goods which are prohibited in the exporter's home market.