§ 8. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the President of the Board of Trade the reason for the decision to deliberalise imports from China, while liberalising imports from other countries with whom we have a less favourable balance of trade.
§ Mr. ErrollI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin) on 12th November.
§ Mr. AllaunHas not the open general licence list been drastically curtailed, with the result that the import of new Chinese products has been deterred? Why does not the new President of the Board of Trade leave the situation as it is instead of worsening it, since there is a widespread feeling in British industry that opportunities for expanding exports of British engineering and other products are being lost because China trades on the bilateral principle?
§ Mr. ErrollAbout three-quarters of our imports from China, mainly raw materials and basic foodstuffs, would continue to enter freely without restriction. The goods affected by quotas amounted to about £2 million last year, and the quota would now provide for imports of about £4 million, so I do not see that there is any ground for suggesting that there is restriction.