HC Deb 16 May 1975 vol 892 cc209-10W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, under associated agreements negotiated between the EEC and Scandinavian countries, to what extent Norway and Sweden have to subscribe to the fair competition rules of the Rome Treaty and Treaty of Paris.

Mr. Shore

The trading relations of Norway and Sweden with the Community are governed by their Free Trade and ECSC Agreements. As regards the Free Trade Agreement, Article 23, dealing with competition, sets out matters which are incompatible with the proper

PERCENTAGE SHARE OF IMPORTS FROM UNITED KINGDOM
1969 1970 1971 1972 1973
Algeria … … … … 2.7 3.3 5.0* 6.0* 4.0*
Libya … … … … 12.3 9.4 10.0 8.8 7.1
Nigeria … … … … 34.8 30.7 31.9 29.5 27.1
Kuwait … … … … 12.7 11.9 11.5 10.2 9.7
Saudi Arabia … … … 10.5 7.4 9.1 11.0* 8.0*
Iran … … … … … 12.3 9.7 11.1 11.5 10.0
Iraq … … … … … 12.0 12.0 9.2 9.7 8.1
Qatar … … … … 22.6 25.0 37.3 26.8 27.4
United Arab Emirates … … 25.0* 24.0* 23.0* 18.0* 16.0*
Indonesia … … … … 3.5 3.5 4.3 4.3 3.2
Ecuador … … … … 5.0 4.0 4.1 6.3 6.0*
Venezuela … … … … 5.4 5.1 5.2 5.3 3.7
Total OPEC … … … 11.0 10.1 11.7 11.0 9.1
Figures for 1974 are not yet available from OPEC countries.
* IMF estimates.
Source: IMF and UN.
Qatar—National publication.

functioning of the Agreements. The provisions of the ECSC Agreements on competition are similar. Additionally there are provisions under the ECSC Agreements binding on Sweden and Norway on pricing practices for iron and steel products covered by the Treaty of Paris. Moreover, the provisions of Article 60 of the Treaty of Paris itself and related decisions on pricing policies are extended to Norway and Sweden.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent Norway is able to give its industries a preferential price for Norwegian oil, and thus discriminate against EEC buyers.

Mr. Deakins

Their oil pricing policies are primarily a matter for the Norwegian Government. The effects of any differential pricing of exported oil, to the extent that they were discriminatory, would need to be considered in the light of Norway's international treaty obligations; in the case of Community buyers particularly the provisions of the Free Trade Agreement between the Community and Norway would apply. The interpretation of that agreement is a matter for parties to it.