§ 34. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the impediment to Great Britain's export trade provided by the operation of the strategic embargo list; and if he will take immediate steps to remove these restrictions.
§ Mr. JayThe purpose of the embargo is to deny to Communist countries goods of atomic, military and strategic value. It is imposed jointly by the N.A.T.O. countries, except Iceland, and by Japan. The list has been considerably shortened in recent years, and it is the Government's policy when it is reviewed each year to reduce it as much as possible consistently with our own and our allies' strategic interests.
§ Mrs. ShortIs my right hon. Friend aware that in many respects, particularly in engineering and technology, items in which Britain is ahead of America at present are kept on the strategic list to the detriment of our export trade, and in view of my right hon. Friend's very welcome conversion to the need to improve our trade with Eastern Europe, will he stand up to the Americans and end this dictatorship of our export trade?
§ Mr. JayWe are now considering a number of suggestions for the removal of items from this list. I am hopeful we shall make progress.