European economic problems - Trade relations between the USA and the European Communities
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 13 and 14 May 1971 (6th and 7th Sittings) (see Doc. 2937, report of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development. Text adopted by the Assembly on 14 May 1971 (7th Sitting).
The Assembly,
1. Considering the report of its Committee on Economic Affairs and Development on the recent deterioration in trade relations between the United States and the European Communities (
Doc. 2937) ;
2. Considering the great importance of foreign trade, particularly with the United States, for the economies of all the Western European countries ;
3. Expresses its concern at the resurgence of protectionism in the United States, and hopes that the supporters of free trade in that country will defend their convictions more energetically ;
4. Considers that a trade war or a return to protectionism would be disastrous in its consequences, both economic and political, for both Europe and the United States and hence for the whole world ;
5. Regards as understandable, but for the most part exaggerated or unfounded, the concern shown by the non-European industrialised countries, especially the United States, at the prospect of enlargement of the European Communities ;
6. Invites the member States of the Communities and the countries applying for membership nonetheless to reassure their traditional partners by making forthwith a solemn declaration affirming their intention to respect those countries' traditional trading interests in Europe, to continue in the future to pursue a liberal trade policy, and to encourage world-wide agreements to control the marketing of agricultural surpluses ;
7. Appeals to the countries of Europe and to the United States and Japan, as soon as negotiations for the enlargement of the Communities are completed, to begin talks within the framework of OECD and GATT with the aim of achieving further substantial progress towards liberalisation in world trade, with special reference to agricultural produce, the respect of fair trading practices and the elimination of non-tariff barriers ;
8. Welcomes the recent decision to set up a Community mission to the United States Government.
