§ 37 and 38. Mr. Gurdenasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that the retention of duties on motor vehicles and components by Portugal is not in accordance with the spirit of the Stockholm Convention; and whether he will make a renewed effort to have them removed, in view of the abolition of the import surcharge;
(2) whether, in view of the abolition of the import surcharge, he will make renewed representation to the Swiss Government regarding the tariffs on private cars, and light commercial vehicles, which are retained as being revenue duties.
§ 39. Mr. Eyreasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the abolition of the import surcharge, he will press the Finnish Government to reduce customs duties on British cars in accordance with the F.I.N.E.F.T.A. Agreement.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Douglas Jay)We take every opportunity of pressing our view that the E.F.T.A. relationship should be reflected in the duties charged on motor vehicles.
§ Mr. GurdenI appreciate that the right hon. Gentleman takes some action in this regard. Does he point out that Britain is Portugal's best customer and that Portugal has retained two-thirds of its pre-E.F.T.A. duties on our motor cars and products?
§ Mr. JayIt would not be fair to Portugal to suggest that we get no preference under E.F.T.A. on motor cars. Nevertheless, I do not think that we are getting all the advantage we should, and I shall continue to press this on all the countries concerned.
§ Mr. EyreWhilst appreciating the special difficulty of Finland due to Soviet trading pressure, is the President of the Board of Trade aware that the British motor manufacturers—[HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."]—are unfairly deprived of an advantage by the Government's harmful domestic economic measures? [HON. MEMBERS: "Reading."] Will he try to compensate for this harm by exerting himself abroad?
§ Mr. JayIt was a little difficult to hear the hon. Gentleman's question, but I am well aware of the position of Finland and I shall continue to press this point, as I did at the last E.F.T.A. meeting in Lisbon.
§ Mr. MappWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind and do what may be desirable in respect of the difficulties which another of our major industries—textiles—is experiencing in regard to trade with Portugal?
§ Mr. JayYes. That was the first subject on which I had conversations with the Trade Minister of Portugal in Lisbon.