§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Trade what improvements would be needed to the multi-fibre arrangement to ensure better protection for the British tufted carpet industry, and man made fibres.
§ Mr. ParkinsonMost United Kingdom imports of these products come from developed countries and the action taken on man-made fibres and considered on tufted carpets was in relation to article XIX of the GATT rather than the multifibre arrangement. While we would like to see—and the European Community is seeking—certain improvements in the provisions of that article, the essential problem is not the provisions themselves, but the general international understanding of when protective action is acceptable in particular cases.