§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Trade what changes in import duties on paper products have been finally agreed in the general agreement on tariffs and trade negotiations, whether such changes have the full approval of the Government; what process of ratification will be involved; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ParkinsonThe changes proposed in the Community's rates of duty for the categories of paper and board imported into the Community in substantial quantities are provisionally as follows:
agreed in the GATT multilateral trade negotiations. A Council decision will be needed in due course to conclude the necessary trade agreement, in accordance, so far as paper tariffs are concerned, with the requirements of Article 114 of the EEC Treaty. When the Commission recommends the Council to take this decision, its recommendation will be deposited with Parliament for Parliament's consideration. The further steps in the international procedure, following the initialling of the agreements by the negotiators on 12 April, are not yet settled, but are expected to include the signing of a tariff protocol broadly along the lines of the tariff protocol adopted at the conclusion of the Kennedy round of trade negotiations.