§ 49. Mr. Russellasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent in acceding to the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association, Her Majesty's Government have undertaken commitments which affect margins of preference guaranteed to Commonwealth countries.
§ Mr. MaudlingOn 1st July next we shall start to remove duties on goods imported from the other members of the European Free Trade Association to the extent required by the Convention. This will affect certain margins of preference which we have undertaken to accord to Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, India, Pakistan and the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and to the Irish Republic, in our Trade Agreements with them. We have approached the Governments concerned and they have told us that they will not invoke, in relation to the members of the European Free Trade Association, their rights to those preferences. Her Majesty's Government are grateful to these Governments for their co-operation in this matter.