HC Deb 23 July 1979 vol 971 cc43-4W
Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects the United States of America to ratify the package agreed in the recent general agreement on tariffs and trade regulations.

Mr. Parkinson

The Trade Agreements Bill 1979 to incorporate the results of the MTN agreements into United States law is currently before Congress. If it is approved, as we hope, we can expect the United States to be prepared to signify its acceptance of the MTN package, by signature towards the end of the year, in time for the main agreements to come into effect on 1 January 1980.