HC Deb 07 February 1984 vol 53 c525W
Mr. Waller

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, during the forthcoming negotiations for the renewal of the textile trade agreement between China and the European Community, he will resist Chinese demands for greatly increased access to the United Kingdom clothing market.

Mr. Channon

The European Community Council agreed in November 1983 that the Commission's negotiating mandate should be the same as that under which the MFA bilateral agreements were negotiated. The mandate provides for an upper limit on overall access for imports from low-cost suppliers of the most sensitive products and for curbs on the growth of quotas for other products.