HC Deb 24 April 1978 vol 948 cc993-4
15. Mr. Arnold

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he is making to the Japanese Government about the level of import duties on United Kingdom confectionery and biscuits.

Mr. Meacher

We and the EEC will continue to take every opportunity to impress on the Japanese Government the importance of reducing these high tariffs as quickly as possible.

I understand that the Japanese Government propose to extend their present MTN offer to include biscuits and chocolate, but not as yet confectionery.

Mr. Arnold

Will the Minister reconfirm that the present rates of duty are now a significant barrier to trade? Will he give the House an assurance that he will do everything he can to impose a quite different point of view upon the Japanese?

Mr. Meacher

Certainly. The level of the Japanese tariff on confectionery, chocolate and biscuits is about 35 per cent. Our aim is to get a reduction of this by about 50 per cent.

Mr. Ronald Atkins

Does my hon. Friend agree that this is just another example of many showing that the Japanese Government are interested in free trade only when it suits Japanese manufacturers and are not concerned with the trade of other people?

Mr. Meacher

It is certainly our intention, in the multilateral trade negotiations, to ensure that we secure a fair deal from the Japanese. Certainly in this sector we have not yet secured that. We intend to press the point hard.

Mr. Gow

Since the Minister is critical of the Japanese and their rates of import duties against our exports, may I ask him to take on board the fact that it would be counter-productive to impose any quota or barrier against trade with Japan and all other countries which wish to export to us?

Mr. Meacher

There is a great deal of difference between access to the United Kingdom market for Japanese goods and access to the Japanese market for our goods. Otherwise it is difficult to explain why the export-import ratio of cars, for example, to the EEC is 1:4 and in the case of Japan 1:28.