HC Deb 27 May 1954 vol 528 cc37-8W
Mr. Holt

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present percentage of liberalisation of our trade with members of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation; and whether an early increase of this percentage can now be permitted.

Mr. Amory

We have now liberalised 82 per cent. of our imports on private account from the member countries of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation. We have undertaken, in recent months, a major relaxation of import restrictions and of other measures of control, and, bearing in mind that we are still heavily in debt to the European Payments Union, I am afraid that we cannot at present take the risk of any substantial further liberalisation of our trade with the member countries of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation

Mr. Holt

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present percentage of liberalisation of our trade with the United States of America and Canada.

Mr. Amory

I estimate that about half our imports from Canada and the United States of America are free from import licensing restrictions.