§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the current state of negotiations seeking to roll over the multi-fibre arrangements terms pending a successful conclusion of the GATT Uruguay round; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamOn 6 October the Foreign Affairs Council agreed a mandate for the European Commission to open negotiations with signatories to the multi-fibre arrangement with a view to extending the MFA, as an interim measure, until such time as the GATT Uruguay round agreement on trade in textiles and clothing is ready to implement. The aim is to conclude bilateral negotiations with individual supplier countries by the end of this year.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to announce an extension of the multi-fibre arrangement, on existing terms, by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 22 October 1992]: On 6 October the Foreign Affairs Council agreed a mandate for the Commission to open negotiations with certain third countries with a view to securing an agreement for an extension of the multi-fibre arrangement. Bilateral negotiations with individual supplier countries have begun and the Commission hopes to conclude these by the end of this year.