§ 3. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what reply he received from the Nigerian Government to the representation he made to them about the need to safeguard British trade in Nigeria, following their agreement in principle with the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesMy right hon. Friend discussed the proposed agreement between Nigeria and the European Economic Community with the Nigerian Prime Minister and other Ministers of the Federal Government during his visit to Nigeria in August. They said that everything possible had been done to avoid damage to British trade interests; but they gave no indication that the Nigerian Government would be prepared to reconsider their offer of preferences to the Community. We felt bound, therefore, to inform the Nigerian Government that, if they should in fact discriminate against British interests in this way, the British Government might be obliged to reconsider the treatment of imports from Nigeria in the British market.