HC Deb 14 June 1974 vol 874 cc669-70W
Mr. Stott

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about EEC negotiations under GATT Article XXIV: 6.

Mr. Shore

As I mentioned to the House on 10th June, I am glad to be able to say that agreement under GATT Article XXIV: 6 has now been reached between the Community and the United States of America over the tariff concessions called for as a result of Community enlargement. Negotiations are continuing with other countries. As soon as the new tariff rates have been finalised I will have a copy put in the Vote Office and the Library, and details will in due course be published in "Trade and Industry". Most of the tariff changes will come into effect on 1st January 1975, and the United Kingdom transitional tariff will be modified accordingly.

The United Kingdom has played a major part in helping to reach this successful result, which we very much welcome. This will remove an obstacle which was threatening to hold up the start of the substantive GATT multilateral trade negotiations in the autumn.