§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on trends in EEC exports to Japan, and his estimate of the effect on United Kingdom exports there of British membership of and withdrawal from the EEC respectively.
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§ Mr. DeakinsMeasured in US dollar values, exports from the original EEC members to Japan rose by 77 per cent. between 1972 and 1973 and by 35 per cent. between the first eight months of 1973 and the first eight months of 1974. The Japanese economy and, in consequence, United Kingdom exports to Japan have been affected over this period by a number of factors, including the energy crisis, changes in exchange rates and commodity price increases, and it is not possible to identify the effect of United Kingdom membership of the EEC or to estimate the effect of any withdrawal.