§ 44. Mr. J. H. Osbornasked the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the Japanese Government following the original Exchange of Notes concerning Voluntary Export Control in November 1962, in connection with the Treaty of Commerce Establishment and Navigation between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Japan which was ratified in 1963; which product groups are now the subject of control as a result of direct Board of Trade inter vention; and which product groups are controlled as a result of negotiations between the respective industries in this country and Japan.
§ Mr. MasonDiscussions took place in 1963, 1964 and 1965 on the quotas for items listed in the Exchange of Notes. The only other product now subject to voluntary export control, as a result of our intervention, is stainless steel tableware, which was freed from import restrictions on 1st January, 1966. I am 1528 not aware of any control imposed as a result of negotiations between British and Japanese industry.
§ Mr. OsbornIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the growing adverse balance of payments on visible trade? What is his view about that? What is the position with regard to the cutlery industry? Is he taking steps to avoid re-exports through third parties in other countries?
§ Mr. MasonIn answer to the hon. Gentleman's point about cutlery, he should know that if the Japanese voluntary export control fails to prevent serious injury to British cutlery manufacturers we can invoke the safeguard provisions of the first protocol to the Treaty; and that seems to be a sufficient safeguard.