§ 17. Mr. Sheldonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the visit to Japan of the Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs.
§ Mr. EmeryMy right hon. and learned Friend visited Japan last week for talks 788 with Japanese Ministers and leaders of the business community, during which he was able to urge that Japan should further open her domestic market to world and British trade.
§ Mr. SheldonMay I express the hope that the urging was rather more powerful than that which the hon. Gentleman expressed in his reply? Is he aware that there is extreme dissatisfaction at the manner in which Japan has used its position to amass very large balance of payments surpluses arising from its over-aggressive trade practices, and that even the floating of the yen is felt by many to be far from clean? Will the hon. Gentle man press his right hon. and learned Friend to pursue this matter more vigorously in the future than he has done in the past?
§ Mr. EmeryI do not agree that this matter has not been pursued vigorously. My right hon. and learned Friend saw Mr. Nakasone, Mr. Ohira and Mr. Shintani—who are respectively the Minister for International Trade and Industry, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Transport—and, in addition, Mr. Aichi, the Finance Minister. My right hon. and learned Friend has been pursuing the matter very fully.
§ Mr. BishopIs the hon. Gentleman aware that despite the talking that is taking place there is grave concern about the matter? What talks did the Minister have with the British ball-bearing industry regarding its future rôle?
§ Mr. EmeryIt would be unfair to pick out any industry at this moment. My right hon. and learned Friend has not yet returned to this country. There will be other opportunities for dealing with this matter.