§ 10. Mr. Phillip Oppenheimasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to encourage Japan to increase imports of manufactured goods and processed agricultural products.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkBoth the Government and the European Community, the latter with our encouragement and full support, have welcomed recent Japanese measures to increase their imports, but are pressing for more urgent implementation of these measures and for a forecast of their impact.
§ Mr. OppenheimNow that the Government have accepted the principle of reciprocity in financial services, will my hon. Friend consider extending that principle to other areas, such as telecommunications?
§ Mr. ClarkYes; my hon. Friend's suggestion is useful. Each case has to be considered on its merits and we have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonIs my hon. Friend aware that Japanese overseas trade missions apparently have instructions to encourage imports into Japan? Can my hon. Friend suggest any reason why, in contrast to the aggressive success of their export drives, those who are charged with responsibility for encouraging imports from western European countries into Japan seem to have such little success?
§ Mr. ClarkThere are two obstructions. There are social factors and the attitude of importers in Japan, and there are obstructions of a tariff and non-tariff kind. There is a rather slower approach to what can be done about the former compared to what can be done about the latter. It is the latter to which we are directing our attention.
§ Mr. John TownendCan my hon. Friend tell me what progress, if any, has been made about removing discrimination against Scotch whisky in the Japanese market?