§ 74. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the United States of America has made representations to the European Economic Community that Common Market countries are contravening the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; what action he has taken or intends taking to raise these matters within the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; and what effect entering the European Economic Community will have on Great Britain's membership of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
§ Mr. MasonI think my hon. Friend has in mind the proposed trade arrangements between the European Economic Community and a number of other, mainly developing, countries. It is the practice for Working Parties on which the334W United Kingdom is invariably represented to study such agreements when they have been completed and presented to G.A.T.T., and to report on their compatibility with the rules of G.A.T.T. relating to free trade areas and customs unions. British entry into the E.E.C. would have no effect on our continuing membership of G.A.T.T.