§ Dr. Mawhinneyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what action Her Majesty's Government will take to ensure that the United States Government comply with the general agreement on tariffs and trade ruling of March 1984 which determined that the manufacturing clause in the United States Copyright Act infringed the general agreement on tariffs and trade;
(2) what response he has received, as a signatory of the general agreement on tariffs and trade, from the United States Government concerning the general agreement on tariffs and trade's ruling of March 1984 which determined that the manufacturing clause in the United States Copyright Act infringed the general agreement on tariffs and trade;
(3) what assurances have been received by Her Majesty's Government that the manufacturing clause in the United States Copyright Act will lapse in 1986.
§ Mr. FletcherThe United States Administration have assured GATT members that they intend to conform to the ruling which condemned this legislation, and to amend4W United States law accordingly. A ruling accepted by the contracting parties to the GATT is binding in international law. The offending United States law is due to expire in June 1986. My right hon. Friend has every confidence that the United States Government will honour their international obligations. We will continue, through the European Commission, to remind the United States Government of our continuing concern about this matter, and to press for early action.
§ Dr. Mawhinneyasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Her Majesty's Government will make it their policy to refuse to allow imports of publications printed in countries whose Governments take no action against publishers and printers who pirate British copyright publications.
§ Mr. ButcherUnited Kingdom obligations under the GATT only permit restrictions on imports which themselves threaten United Kingdom commercial or public interests. Accordingly, United Kingdom copyright legislation enables the importation of infringing printed copies of literary, dramatic and musical works to be prevented. The Government none the less pursues all available opportunities to encourage suppression of piracy and adherence to the international copyright conventions. It participates fully in initiatives to this end within the European Community and the Council of Europe.