§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent membership of the European Economic Community permits the United Kingdom to make bilateral trade deals with third countries.
§ Mr. ParkinsonTrade questions such as tariffs and quotas fall within the common commercial policy of the European Community, and agreements on these subjects are concluded by the Community as a whole. Outside the area of the common commercial policy, on subjects such as economic co-operation, individual member States do indeed conclude 253W bilateral agreements with third countries ; and many of these contribute to promoting the expansion of trade.