§ Mr. Roperasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of India's exports to the United Kingdom will become subject to tariff or quota restriction as a result of British membership of the European Communities in the absence of any special trading agreements.
§ Sir G. HoweThis cannot be indicated precisely. Changes in the coverage of quantitive restraints will be relatively insignificant. Some important duties—for example, free entry for bulk tea—will remain unchanged. However, the liability170W of a wide range of Indian exports to duty will rest on her competitive ability to take advantage of the duty free quotas under the Community's scheme of generalised preferences for developing countries which the United Kingdom will adopt on 1st January 1974.
§ Mr. Roperasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what will be the effect on Indian exports of: (a) manufactured tobacco, (b) tea, (c) woollen carpets, (d) leather, and (e) sugar, to the United Kingdom as a result of British membership of the European Communities.
§ Sir G. HoweIndian tobacco is exported unmanufactured, and the United Kingdom will introduce the common customs tariff on it—at present about 6p a lb.—by stages during the transitional period. The common customs tariff on bulk tea is suspended at nil. Woollen carpets and most leather will continue to enter duty-free, although under the Community's present generalised preference scheme, which the United Kingdom is to adopt on 1st January 1974, these products will generally be subject to a duty-free quota. The provisions of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement will continue to apply until 31st December 1974.