HC Deb 29 March 1990 vol 170 cc277-8W
Mr. Henderson

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has considered any changes in the multi-fibre arrangement in the light of the changes in central and eastern Europe.

Mr. Redwood

[holding answer 28 March 1990]: The multi-fibre arrangement (MFA) lays down a multilateral framework for trade in textile products. The EC is already committed in the current Uruguay round to negotiating the phase out of the MFA on acceptable terms on its expiry in 1991. This commitment is unaffected by developments in central and eastern Europe. However the EC has a number of bilateral agreements with east European countries within the current MFA framework and changes to the agreements with Poland and Hungary have recently been agreed.