European Free Trade Area (Hansard, 25 June 1957)

§ 2. Mr. Osborne
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a full list of quotas and tariffs, now imposed on goods imported from Europe into the United Kingdom, which it is proposed should disappear under the proposed European Free Trade Area.

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
The United Kingdom proposal is that the European Free Trade Area should provide for progressive elimination of protective tariffs and quotas on all area products other than foodstuffs. These products are broadly the items enumerated in Chapters 25 to 99 of the Brussels Nomenclature. These are set out in Command Paper 127 published in April last.

§ Mr. Osborne
Will my right hon. and learned Friend set forth in a simplified way those tariffs which are to be swept away, so that British industry and British capital may know the additional risks they will face if this scheme comes to fruition?

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
With respect to my hon. Friend, I doubt whether any effort at simplification would really be helpful in this context. There are 919 headings, and I think the best course is for industrialists to look at the document itself.

Mr. J. T. Price
Will the Minister be good enough to publish the list of the other restrictions which are placed upon British goods imported into America from Europe, such as the condition that 50 per cent. of the imported goods shall be carried in American ships and not by the British Mercantile Marine? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman look into that also?

§ Mr. Walker-Smith
The hon. Member raises an interesting question, but I think it is hardly one which arises in the context of this Question.

§ Mr. Osborne
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.