European Common Market (Hansard, 17 April 1957)

§ 54. Mr. Russell
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the value of exports from the Colonial Territories to the six countries of the European Common Market Treaty for the latest convenient year; and what proportion these exports were of total colonial exports.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The value of exports from the Colonial Territories to the six countries of the European Economic Community in 1955 was approximately £170 million, and represented some 13 per cent. of total colonial exports. These figures do not include Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, whose trade is covered by the Federal returns; nor the Gold Coast (now Ghana).

§ 55. Mr. Russell
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give an estimate of the likely effect on imports from the Colonial Territories into the six European Common Market countries of the duties already fixed by those countries on various commodities.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The preferential position afforded to the overseas territories associated with the Common Market may cause some contraction (or loss of potential expansion) in the market for certain products of the Colonial Territories. The extent of such contraction will depend on a number of factors. which cannot be precisely estimated at present, including the stimulus to production in the associated overseas territories afforded by the new preference, and in the long run the possible expansion of demand in Europe.
I am, however, circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT below a note of new duties as so far fixed, the present duties and the pattern of trade in respect of some of the commodities mainly affected.
197W

BRITISH COLONIAL PRODUCTS (DEPENDENT OVERSEAS TERRITORIES)

TABLE SHOWING TARIFF AND TRADE INFORMATION ABOUT CERTAIN PRINCIPAL BRITISH COLONIAL EXPORTS

Commodity Common Tariff Approximate Individual Tariffs^* of Imports (1955)‡ into £mn. Colonial Territories principally concerned

Benelux France (1954) W. Germany Italy

Benelux France† Germany Italy From Messina Overseas Territories From U.K. Dependent Overseas Territories From Rest of World From Messina Overseas Territories From U.K. Dependent Overseas Territories From Rest of World From Messina Overseas Territories From U.K. Dependent Overseas Territories From Rest of World From Messina Overseas Territories From U.K. Dependent Overseas Territories From Rest of World

Bananas 20%(a) 15%§ Preferential free entry 28%§ Free(b) 40%§ 0.6 … 3.8 19.7 … 0.1 0.4 … 11.5 0.3 — 3.9 W. Indies, Cameroons.

Citrus Fruits:

Lemons 8% 15–20%(e)§ Preferential free entry some periods 20–35%(d)§ Preferential free entry 10%(e)§ 5%–15% … … 11.4 17.2 … 13.0 0.1 0.2 26.1 — — — W. Indies, Cyprus.

Grapefruit 12%

Oranges 15%–20%

Coffee 16% Approx.9% (Free) 20%§ Approx.26% Approx. 10% 3.6 1.2 28.3 49.3 — 30.0 1.0 6.1 57.4 2.3 4.6 23.3 E. Africa. W. Indies.

Groundnuts Free Free§ 10% with specific bottom stop§ (Free) Free§ 8%§ — 1.7 2.5 0…1 … — — 1…0 1.3 — 2.6 0…8 W. Africa, E. Africa.

Palm Kernels. Free Free§ 10% with specific bottom stop§ Free§ Free 1.7 3.9 0.9 — — — 1.2 3.8 0…7 … … … W. Africa.

Copra Free 10% 10% with specific bottom stop§ Free Free§ … 0.1 7.8 4.8 0.7 1.6 … 2.9 14.2 — 0…1 — Malaya, Zanzibar, W. Pacific

Sugar 80% Approx 67% Duty quota 110% (Free) Free but internal taxes 105% — — 10.7 19.2 … 2.8 — — 7.1 — — 1.1

Cocoa 9% Free(f) 25%§ (Free) 10%§ Free-5%. 10.9 6.5 5.8 17.9 3.4 1.9 5.8 13.1 7.9 2.9 1.5 2.0 W. Africa, W. Indies.

Rubber Free Free(g)§ Free§ Free Free(h)§ 1.9 26.0 15.9 5.0 15.6 5.1 0.7 24.6 21.4 0.1 13.8 5.1 Malaya, N. Borneo, Sarawak, Nigeria.

Hides and Skins. Free Free§ Free§ Free-10%§ Free§ 0.1 0.4 9.1 2.6 1.0 17.7 0.3 0.9 23.4 0.5 1.1 7.9 E. Africa, Nigeria, Somaliland.

Plywood 15% 6%–10%§ Preferential free entry 10%–25% Preferential free entry 10%–15%(j) 18%–22% 0.2 — 3.2 0.8 … — — … 0.7 — — — Nigeria.

Cotton Free Free§ Free§ Free§ 6%§ 4.0 — 47.0 12.1 0.4 87.2 1.9 3.6 79.4 — 2.7 41.0 Nigeria, E. Africa.

^* Temporarily suspended duties are noted "(Free)". (a) With special duty free quota for W. Germany. (f)Bound at 10%. … Not available.

† All imports from French Dependent Overseas (b) Bound at 5%. (g) Pastes, plates and sheets bound at 6%. — Nil or negligible.

Territories are free of duty. (c) Lemons bound at 13%. (h) Plates and sheets bound at 10%.

‡ The import figures include Ghana as separate figures are not available from the sources used. (d) Lemons bound at 15%. Oranges entering between 1st July and 31st August (j) Bound at 15%–20%.

§ Bound in the G.A.T.T. (e) Lemons bound free.

198W

BRITISH COLONIAL PRODUCTS (DEPENDENT OVERSEAS TERRITORIES)
TABLE SHOWING TARIFF AND TRADE INFORMATION ABOUT CERTAIN PRINCIPAL BRITISH COLONIAL EXPORTS
Commodity	Common Tariff	Approximate Individual Tariffs^* of	Imports (1955)‡ into	£mn.	Colonial Territories principally concerned
			Benelux	France (1954)	W. Germany	Italy
Benelux	France†	Germany	Italy	From Messina Overseas Territories	From U.K. Dependent Overseas Territories	From Rest of World	From Messina Overseas Territories	From U.K. Dependent Overseas Territories	From Rest of World	From Messina Overseas Territories	From U.K. Dependent Overseas Territories	From Rest of World	From Messina Overseas Territories	From U.K. Dependent Overseas Territories	From Rest of World
Bananas	20%(a)	15%§ Preferential free entry	28%§	Free(b)	40%§	0.6	…	3.8	19.7	…	0.1	0.4	…	11.5	0.3	—	3.9	W. Indies, Cameroons.
Citrus Fruits:
Lemons	8%	15–20%(e)§ Preferential free entry some periods	20–35%(d)§ Preferential free entry	10%(e)§	5%–15%	…	…	11.4	17.2	…	13.0	0.1	0.2	26.1	—	—	—	W. Indies, Cyprus.
Grapefruit	12%
Oranges	15%–20%
Coffee	16%	Approx.9% (Free)	20%§	Approx.26%	Approx. 10%	3.6	1.2	28.3	49.3	—	30.0	1.0	6.1	57.4	2.3	4.6	23.3	E. Africa. W. Indies.
Groundnuts	Free	Free§	10% with specific bottom stop§ (Free)	Free§	8%§	—	1.7	2.5	0…1	…	—	—	1…0	1.3	—	2.6	0…8	W. Africa, E. Africa.
Palm Kernels.	Free	Free§	10% with specific bottom stop§	Free§	Free	1.7	3.9	0.9	—	—	—	1.2	3.8	0…7	…	…	…	W. Africa.
Copra	Free	10%	10% with specific bottom stop§	Free	Free§	…	0.1	7.8	4.8	0.7	1.6	…	2.9	14.2	—	0…1	—	Malaya, Zanzibar, W. Pacific
Sugar	80%	Approx 67% Duty quota	110% (Free)	Free but internal taxes	105%	—	—	10.7	19.2	…	2.8	—	—	7.1	—	—	1.1
Cocoa	9%	Free(f)	25%§ (Free)	10%§	Free-5%.	10.9	6.5	5.8	17.9	3.4	1.9	5.8	13.1	7.9	2.9	1.5	2.0	W. Africa, W. Indies.
Rubber	Free	Free(g)§	Free§	Free	Free(h)§	1.9	26.0	15.9	5.0	15.6	5.1	0.7	24.6	21.4	0.1	13.8	5.1	Malaya, N. Borneo, Sarawak, Nigeria.
Hides and Skins.	Free	Free§	Free§	Free-10%§	Free§	0.1	0.4	9.1	2.6	1.0	17.7	0.3	0.9	23.4	0.5	1.1	7.9	E. Africa, Nigeria, Somaliland.
Plywood	15%	6%–10%§ Preferential free entry	10%–25% Preferential free entry	10%–15%(j)	18%–22%	0.2	—	3.2	0.8	…	—	—	…	0.7	—	—	—	Nigeria.
Cotton	Free	Free§	Free§	Free§	6%§	4.0	—	47.0	12.1	0.4	87.2	1.9	3.6	79.4	—	2.7	41.0	Nigeria, E. Africa.
^* Temporarily suspended duties are noted "(Free)".	(a) With special duty free quota for W. Germany.	(f)Bound at 10%.	… Not available.
† All imports from French Dependent Overseas	(b) Bound at 5%.	(g) Pastes, plates and sheets bound at 6%.	— Nil or negligible.
Territories are free of duty.	(c) Lemons bound at 13%.	(h) Plates and sheets bound at 10%.
‡ The import figures include Ghana as separate figures are not available from the sources used.	(d) Lemons bound at 15%. Oranges entering between 1st July and 31st August	(j) Bound at 15%–20%.
§ Bound in the G.A.T.T.	(e) Lemons bound free.