§ 27. Mr. Nabarroasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent, ad valorem and in volume, British exports to the countries of the European Economic Community have increased in twelve months to 31st October, 1961, compared with the preceding twelve months; what tariff discrimination against British exports occurred in that period as a result of the increased European Economic Community common external tariff; whether British trade with the Common Market countries is now in balance; and what estimate he has made of the effect of forthcoming tariff reductions by General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade signatories upon British trade with the European Economic Community.
§ Sir K. JosephBritish exports to the countries of the European Economic Community in the twelve months ending 31st October, 1961, exceeded exports in the preceding twelve months by £86 million, or 17 per cent. No comparable figures of volume are available. During that period there was some increase in discrimination against imports from outside the Community, mainly because of reductions in the Community's internal tariffs. Our trade with the countries of the Community is broadly in balance. It is impossible to assess the effect of any reductions agreed in the tariff negotiations in the G.A.T.T. which are not yet concluded.
§ Mr. NabarroCould my hon. Friend tell us whether the increase of 17 per cent. in British exports to the Common 230 Market countries was most largely at the expense of Commonwealth trade?
§ Sir K. JosephThat is a different question, but, of course, the House will see that our proportions of trade are rising with the more expanding economies which are at the moment in Western Europe.
§ Mr. JayDo not these figures show that the United Kingdom exports to the Six countries are now rising almost as fast as the Six's exports to one another? Does not this put in rather better perspective some of the forecasts made of the huge additional exports we shall get by signing the Treaty of Rome?
§ Sir K. JosephIt certainly reflects the growing awareness of British enterprises of the values of these markets.
§ Mr. NabarroWould not my hon. Friend agree that the perspicacity of British exporters in the face of uncertainty about whether Britain will accede to the Treaty of Rome or not is the principal contributory factor in this very significant and satisfactory increase in British exports to Western Europe? Does my hon. Friend agree?
§ Sir K. JosephI have just tried to say that in my reply to the previous supplementary question.
§ Mr. NabarroJolly good! I wanted to be quite sure about it.