HC Deb 15 May 1972 vol 837 cc13-6
8. Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he has received from the Australian Government about possible British action to protect Australian interests following Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Geoffrey Rippon)

We have had useful informal and exploratory talks at official level with the Australians on the prospects for their commodity exports which could be affected by our accession to the European Economic Community.

Mr. Huckfield

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman able to understand that I am a little at a lass to understand what he has just said, especially as the Australian Labour Party has been given the definite impression that very strenuous representations have been made? Is this not the Australian Minister of Trade roaring like a lion when he is at home but squeaking like a mouse when he is abroad?

Mr. Rippon

We have always been grateful for the support of the Australian Labour Party for Britain's accession to the Community. We have always understood that there are problems relating to particular commodities. Some of these problems are dealt with in the general arrangements in Protocol 16 of the Act annexed to the Treaty of Accession. These discussions are going on all the time and we had some useful and valuable discussions, as I indicated in my reply, on 7th, 10th and 11th April.

Mr. Blaker

Is it not an encouraging fact for the Australian Government to bear in mind that between 1958, when the Community was founded, and 1971 Australian exports to the Community increased very much faster, in spite of tariffs, than Australian exports to this country?

Mr. Rippon

Certainly there are anxieties about particular commodities. I think that the Australian Government are right in the general view which they have expressed that it will benefit Australia as well as the United Kingdom and Europe when enlargement takes place.

Mr. Shore

Would it not be more honest to admit the truth that there are no safeguards for Australian interests, that Australian trade will be treated as that of a third country by Britain if and when we join the Common Market and that for Australia this means that in place of preferential access to the British market she will have to face a common external tariff? Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman expect Britain's exports to Australia to be able to continue to enjoy the preferences they now receive?

Mr. Rippon

What would be dishonest would be to give Australians the impression that the right hon. Gentleman was expressing the real truth. Everyone understands the position perfectly well. The safeguards are there in Protocol 16, and there are satisfactory arrangements which we have developed for consultations with the Australian Government and the Australian people.

12. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will be attending the meeting of Common Market Ministers on 26th May.

Mr. Rippon

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I expect to visit Luxembourg at the end of this month when there will be meetings of Foreign Ministers of the Ten.

Mr. Marten

At these meetings will my right hon. and learned Friend and the Foreign Secretary speak up very clearly on behalf of those members of EFTA who are not joining the Community? Does he recall the communique, issued at the end of the EFTA meeting, which refers to the problems of crucial importance to them which remain unsolved? Is not the best way to get the Six to come to heel over this and many other outstanding issues to tell them clearly that this House will not have a Report and Third Reading of the European Communities Bill until all outstanding matters are settled?

Mr. Rippon

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade and I attended the meeting of the EFTA Council of Ministers at the beginning of May. The communique was issued thereafter. We are all satisfied with the way things are proceeding at the moment. We indicated the problems which were still outstanding in the negotiations with the Six and we indicated the support we would give to our EFTA partners. Their negotiations are their responsibility, but they know our views and they know the support they will receive from us.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

Would the right hon. and learned Gentleman perhaps take with him as a brief the excellent weekend speech of my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Stechford (Mr. Roy Jenkins) and try to raise some of the points which he put forward? Everyone is interested in those matters.

Mr. Rippon

One of the items for discussion by Heads of Governments at the summit conference at the end of October will be the external relations and responsibilities of the Community. That is an item on the agenda which will certainly cover problems of increased contributions to the developing countries of the world. It is a matter to which we, like the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Stechford (Mr. Roy Jenkins), attach considerable importance.

24. Mr. Loveridge

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent representations he has received from the United States Government relating to the alteration in trade patterns which they anticipate after Great Britain joins the European Economic Community.

Mr. Rippon

The United States Government have from time to time made known to Her Majesty's Government as well as to the present Community their interest in the effects of enlargement on their export markets.

Mr. Loveridge

I appreciate that answer. Will my right hon. and learned Friend do his best to ensure that there is a reasonable compromise between our colleagues in Europe, ourselves and the United States over trade matters, so that we do not further encourage isolationist thinking in the United States?

Mr. Rippon

Certainly, I am happy to give my hon. Friend that assurance. I envisage that next year there will be a round of discussions in which we shall be involved, under the auspices of GATT or OECD, which we must all hope will encourage further liberalisation of trade.

Mr. Deakins

Has not the movement towards protectionism in recent years in the United States been basically caused by the inward-looking, protectionist and imperialistic policies of the European Economic Community in relation to—[AN HON. MEMBER "Nonsense".]—preferential trading agreements instead of multilateral trade agreements?

Mr. Rippon

United States trade with the Community has been consistently expanding and the United States has large surpluses in its trade. There are certainly problems. It would be unfair to criticise the United States for its protionist policies. To some extent we are all involved from time to time in protecting local interests. But certainly we wish to encourage the United States and everyone else to liberalise trade still further by reducing non-tariff barriers as well as tariff barriers.