HC Deb 12 March 1986 vol 93 cc488-9W
25. Mr. Lilley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress on the proposed new general agreement on tariffs and trade round.

Mr. Alan Clark

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow on 12 February, the contracting parties to GATT agreed unanimously on 28 November 1985 to set up a preparatory committee for a new round of multilateral trade negotiations. Ministers are expected to make a formal decision to launch the new negotiations at a special meeting planned for this September.