§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has had with other EU member states with regard to encouraging closer trading links between the EU and NAFTA. [48732]
§ Mrs. BeckettDuring our Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, the UK hosted EU summits with both the USA and Canada to encourage closer trading links. On 25 May the General Affairs Council also approved negotiating directives for the Commission to pursue the liberalisation of trade with Mexico, as foreseen in the Agreements between the EU and Mexico signed in Luxembourg on 8 December 1997.