§ 2.35 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in 1957 copper wire was removed from the Board of Trade list of goods subject to embargo or quantitive limitation for China, and, if so, whether they will state on what grounds restrictions are now being imposed on the export of copper wire to China at a time when it is not in short supply.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD MANCROFT)My Lords, the Board of Trade's 1957 list was a unified list which brought the controls on trade with China into complete alignment with the controls on trade with the Soviet bloc. Copper wire was not included because in relation to the Soviet bloc our only continuing obligation to our partners in the Paris Group was to watch how this trade was developing. But in view of the way the trade was developing, we had already at that stage applied a limitation to exports to the Soviet bloc; and, following the unification of the controls, this limitation was extended to China in place of the pre-existing embargo.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKMy Lords, I beg to thank the noble Lord for his Answer. But is he aware that if it is a matter of operation under the embargo the exporters of copper wire know exactly where they are, whereas when, as has happened, the controls are switched to and fro, it is quite impossible for them to lay their plans ahead with regard to the total amount needed for export?
§ LORD MANCROFTYes, my Lords. There are, of course, difficulties inherent to this system, but several firms were told last December that applications from them for stated tonnages would be favourably considered if and when they produced evidence that Chinese buyers had given them contracts. No licence for China has, however, so far been granted, as none of these firms has yet reported a Chinese order.
VISCOUNT ELIBANKI thank the noble Lord. May I ask him whether he has any information which would suggest that Chile is entering the copper wire market?
§ LORD MANCROFTYes, my Lords; I have heard rumours that Chile is willing to sell copper wire to the Soviets. We have, however, seen no reports of Chilean interest in supplying China, and so far as we know there has not been any Chilean sale, direct or indirect, of copper or copper wire to the Soviet bloc itself.
LORD REAMy Lords, does the statement of the Minister that no application has been granted also include the fact that no application has been refused?
§ LORD MANCROFTNone of these firms, I repeat, has so far reported a Chinese order. That is the governing factor.