§ Lord Brockwayasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been their attitude at the Executive Committee of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to the Nicaraguan request for it to consider urgently the United States embargo on trade with Nicaragua as a violation of Article I of the agreement, which states that contracting parties cannot obstruct commerce between one another.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth)There has so far been no discussion of this issue in GATT. The European Community is preparing its position for the discussion expected in the GATT Council on 29th May. Article XXI of the GATT permits any Contracting Party to take action it considers necessary for the protection of its essential security interests.