§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to other European Economic Community member states concerning the imposition of restrictions on imports of foodstuffs from the United States of America into Spain and Portugal; and what justification has been given for such restrictions.
§ Mrs. FennerBefore joining the Community, Spain and Portugal both operated restrictive import regimes for a number of agricultural commodities, through levies, quotas, state monopoly import arrangements and restrictive import licensing. The Treaty for the Accession of Spain and Portugal to the Community provides, in addition to the phased adoption by these countries of the common agricultural policy, for the continued operation of certain quantitative import restrictions for a limited period. None relates specifically to imports from the United States of America. Discussions are at present taking place within the Community on the appropriate response to United States complaints at the effect of these restrictions.