§ 12. Mr. George Craddockasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken during 1954 to improve trade between this country and the Commonwealth; and what new agreements have been made since 31st December, 1953.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftFortunately, we do not need to make regular trade agreements with our fellow members of the Commonwealth in order to foster our trade with them. Our Commonwealth trade prospers as a result of our close political and economic ties, the longstanding preferential advantages we give to one another and the regular exchange of views on economic questions between Commonwealth Governments, as, for example, at the recent Sydney Conference.
§ Mr. CraddockDoes not the Minister think that that is a very indefinite reply, having regard to the fact that we have just made an agreement with Japan for the inflow of goods throughout the Commonwealth as well as into this country?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe recent Agreement also provided for the outflow of a lot of goods from the Commonwealth.