Soviets Agree to Join Bilateral Trade Talks

The Soviet Union has agreed to participate in talks with the European Community to promote economic relations, Willy De Cler, the organization’ commissioner for external relations, has announced.

He said it is the first time the Soviets have responded positively to the idea of bilateral economic deals since 1977, when initial contacts broke down over the issue of bloc-to-bloc dealing versus individual arrangements between member nations of the Common Market and the Soviet-led East European Comecon trade group.