33. Mr. Tom Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will give an estimate of the overall effect of the changes in United Kingdom tariffs due on 1st January next designed to bring the United Kingdom more into line with the EEC common external tariff.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe overall effect of the changes being made on 1st January in duties on imports from non-Community countries is expected to be very small.
Mr. EllisIs my hon. Friend aware that his answer will be received with great pleasure by a large number of people? Does he agree that the net effect of our internal tariffs, taken together with the Community subsidies on imports from third countries, has so far been appreciably less than lp in the pound?
§ Mr. DeakinsI think that my hon. Friend is slightly mistaken. There are no Community subsidies other than those on sugar on imports from third countries, and to set against that one must remember that there are duties and levies on agricultural imports from third countries, which rather complicates the matter.
§ Mr. MartenWhy is there to be an increase in import tax on lambs from third countries?
§ Mr. DeakinsBecause that is part of the Treaty of Accession obligations which we accepted on entry. We are bound by the treaty. We cannot change it. But I do not think that this further move will in any way prejudice the Government's attitude in renegotiation.
§ Mr. JayIs my hon. Friend aware that, if it were not for the ban on beef imports from outside the Community, we could buy beef more cheaply from Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, Poland, Yugoslavia and several other countries?
§ Mr. DeakinsWe could buy certain commodities more cheaply, but, to be fair, I must point out that there are also commodities that we can buy currently in the Community more cheaply because of the relationship between the EEC and world prices at present in those commodities.
§ Mr. HigginsIs it not a question of the overall effect? Taking individual items is a deceptive way to look at the situation. Is the overall effect to increase or to decrease the rate of increase in the cost of living?
§ Mr. DeakinsThe overall effect of changes of duties on imports from non-Community countries is very little. If one were to take into account, which Question No. 33 does not, changes in duties, including changes in intra-Community traffic, there would be a reduction.