HC Deb 23 April 1963 vol 676 cc3-4
2. Mr. Fitch

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will approach the Minister responsible for external trade in the Canadian and Australian Governments with a view to allowing the duty free import of cast steel valves manufactured in this country, into their respective countries.

Mr. Green

No, Sir.

Mr. Fitch

Is the Minister of State aware that the duty-free import of steel valves into this country is causing great hardship to some engineering workers, and will he get in touch with his opposite numbers in the Canadian and Australian Governments and try to put a stop to this one-way preference system? Will the hon. Gentleman also urge the Prime Minister to call a Commonwealth Conference in order to revise the Ottawa Agreements?

Mr. Green

I must tell the hon. Gentleman that we can trace no complaints from British firms concerning the level of the duties and we have no evidence that they are unreasonably high. We enjoy, in fact, a margin of preference of 12½ per cent. in Canada and 32½ per cent. in Australia. I am sure the hon. Gentleman would agree with me that it would be impracticable, and, indeed, undesirable, to attempt to arrange reciprocity of treatment item by item in our trade agreements with Commonwealth countries.

Mr. Fitch

Will not the hon. Gentleman agree that he has received ample evidence from me?

Mr. Green

I can only repeat that there have been no complaints from British firms concerning the level of these duties and that we have preferential treatment in both the Canadian and Australian markets.