HC Deb 11 July 1957 vol 573 c57W
25. Mr. P. Williams

asked the President of the Board of Trade on what recent occasions, and in connection with what commodities, Her Majesty's Government has received recommendations from Commonwealth Governments to increase imports from Commonwealth countries; and what replies have been given.

Sir D. Eccles

In the trade negotiations last year the Australian Government asked us to increase the opportunities for the sale of their wheat and the arrangements recorded in the Trade Agreement should have this result. This year in the trade talks with New Zealand and subsequently with Australia, we discussed requests by them that we should restrict imports of foreign meat. We were unable to agree to this, but we have agreed that if circumstances should arise which threaten serious injury to the trade we will be ready to consult and to consider sympathetically any request for the application of such remedial measures as may be appropriate.