§ 41. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the trade negotiations with Japan which have resulted in an increase in the quotas of manufactured goods to be imported from Japan; what were the names of the representatives of the pottery, cotton, synthetic fibres and engineering industries whom he consulted; what were the 32W names of the Commonwealth representatives he consulted, and the countries they came from; what changes are to be made in the quotas to be allowed into the colonial territories; and what the effect of these changes will be.
§ Sir K. JosephThese negotiations ended on 22nd December, 1961, when an Anglo-Japanese trade arrangement was signed for the period of 12 months ending, 30th September, 1962. Japan has made considerable progress in relaxing her import restrictions and under the arrangement British exporters will share fully in the benefit of her recent liberalisation measures and in increased quotas for goods still subject to control. In return, we have further relaxed some of the restrictions on our side. The Board of Trade are constantly in touch with trade associations and individual businesses in the industries mentioned by the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South and in many others, and their views on imports from Japan were taken fully into account. All the Colonial Governments were also consulted. No changes are made in the arrangements relating to imports of Japanese goods into the Colonies.
§ 42. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade why the import quotas of pottery manufactured in Japan have been increased; and what other quotas have been increased.
§ Sir K. JosephNearly all our import quotas for Japanese goods have been increased as part of a bargain which will enable British exporters to benefit from substantial relaxations in Japanese import restrictions, and will I hope lead to an increase in trade all round.
§ 43. Sir B. Jannerasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present position of the negotiations for a long term commercial treaty between the United Kingdom and Japan; and whether he will include a clause in that treaty which will give the United Kingdom the right to restrict imports of specific items in cases where imports of these items show a sudden sharp increase.
§ Sir K. JosephThese negotiations were resumed last November and good progress is being made. I am not able 33W to make any further statement at present but the hon. Member may rest assured that we intend to obtain adequate safeguards against disruptive competition.