HC Deb 03 February 1949 vol 460 cc1807-8
4. Colonel Hutchison

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to assess the relative advantages and disadvantages to this country of the tariff changes which took place under the Geneva and Havana Agreements.

Mr. H. Wilson

The tariff changes have taken place under the Geneva Agreement, not the Havana Charter. As was explained in the Debate in the House on January 29th, 1948, His Majesty's Government consider that there was a fair balance between the concessions obtained for United Kingdom exports and the concessions made by the United Kingdom under the Geneva Agreement. The tariff changes took effect as between the eight original signatories of the Agreement from the beginning of 1948, but the changes made by other countries that have subsequently adhered have been in effect only a short time. It is not possible to relate changes in trade directly to the tariff changes, in particular because in many of the countries concerned (including the United Kingdom but excluding the United States) import restrictions to safeguard the balance of payments have so far prevented tariff concessions from having their full effect. But I may say that United Kingdom exports to the other original participants in the Geneva Agreement have shown an encouraging increase in 1948.

Colonel Hutchison

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that in view of the fact that further talks along the same lines are due to take place in April, it is of the highest importance that we should be satisfied that the advantages to this country are as great as the advantages which we have handed away?

Mr. Wilson

Yes, Sir. We should not enter into any agreement except on the basis that we were so satisfied.

Mr. Oliver Stanley

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any greater increase in exports to the United States in those articles on which tariffs have been reduced than in others on which tariffs remain as they were before?

Mr. Wilson

I should want notice of that question.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Do the Government consider that it is a good thing that no new preferences should be given throughout the British Empire as a result of these agreements?

Mr. Wilson

That is an entirely different question which the House debated on 29th January, and I have no doubt that there will be another opportunity for the House to debate it.