To ask the President of the Board of Trade what negotiations in the current general agreement on tariffs and trade round affect the ceramic industry; and if he will make a statement.

The ceramic industry is primarily affected by the market access negotiations on reductions in customs duties. My Department was made aware of the industry's interests at an earlier stage of the negotiations, in particular as regards the very high duties on some imports into the United States, and these are being addressed by the European Commission in the negotiations.