Written question asked by Lord Redwood (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 May 1996. It was answered by Anthony Nelson (Conservative) on Monday, 13 May 1996 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: What action he is proposing to pursue the goal of global free trade. - My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade set out his views on these issues in speech given to the British American Chamber of Commerce on 30 April, (in Library).

Answer: Mr. Redwood: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he is proposing to pursue the goal of global free trade.[28913] Mr. Nelson: The Government envisage three main stages in the pursuit of global free trade. First, the ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation in Singapore in December 1996 should set in train a comprehensive work programme to carry forward the process of liberalisation, building on the achievements of the Uruguay round. Secondly, a new multilateral negotiating round should be launched in the WTO before the end of the decade, to be concluded and implemented early in the next century. Thirdly, the WTO should set itself a firm date for achieving the ultimate goal of global free trade by 2020. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade set out his views on these issues in a speech given to the British American Chamber of Commerce on 30 April, a copy of which I have arranged to be placed in the Library of the House.

Secondary information