HC Deb 21 January 1954 vol 522 cc1201-2

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

59. Mr. Janner

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the recent trade tour of the Minister of State, Board of Trade, to South America.

At the end of Questions—

The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Heathcoat Amory)

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I should like to answer Question No. 59.

During my two and a half weeks' visit to Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, I was able to reaffirm the importance which Her Majesty's Government attach to the traditional commercial links between Latin America and the United Kingdom. I had many very friendly and frank discussions with the Ministers concerned with trade and with representatives of important British and Latin American commercial interests in the three countries, and I am glad to say that I found much evidence of a fund of good will towards Great Britain.

Current trade is at present severely restricted by import and currency transfer restrictions in Latin America from which I fear there may be little immediate relief. In the longer term, however, there are, clearly, potentialities. These countries intend to develop their own secondary industries; while this will entail an alteration in the pattern of trade between us, there are likely in the long term to be important opportunities, particularly for capital equipment. Competition, however, from other exporting countries is extremely keen and may well become still more intense, and the utmost vigour, resource and alertness therefore will be necessary. The situation favours the strong, comprehensive concern, and in many cases I believe that our manufacturers will find it advantageous to tackle these markets in some form of co-operation with one another.

Mr. H. Wilson

In view of the valuable work which it would appear from Press reports the right hon. Gentleman was doing in South America, and his statement that he had to cut short his visit because of Parliamentary duties, does he not consider that it would have been better if he had stayed there rather than return to this House for the purpose of the very unnecessary and, indeed, highly harmful Cotton Bill?

Mr. Amory

I was hoping at the first convenient opportunity to return to South America and complete the visit.

Mr. Osborne

Has my right hon. Friend anything to say about the promise which Argentina made two years ago that she would import £3 million worth of consumer goods from this country, under the last agreement, a promise which, I believe, she has not fulfilled? Is there any chance of it being fulfilled in the near future?

Mr. Amory

I should like to assure my hon. Friend that that was one of the questions discussed with Argentine Ministers. I received an assurance that licences had, in fact, been issued to a total of at least £3 million, covering those less essential goods. I asked for detailed information in order that we might trace if these licences have been used and if business was resulting. I am awaiting that information, and I hope to have it within a few days.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

In view of the Minister's success in Brazil and his hope to return to South America, does he not think that he might return by way of China and the U.S.S.R. in order to improve our relations there?

Mr. Amory

I have a very open mind.