§ Mr. Ashleyasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that British Exports to the Soviet Union increased from £63 million in 1967 to £102 million in 1968, and to Rumania from £10 million to £31 million; and what action he proposes to take to promote the continued expansion of exports to these and other countries in Eastern Europe.
§ Mr. CroslandArrangements providing for increased trade exchanges in the coming year have recently been concluded with the Soviet Union and Rumania and negotiations are in train for the renewal of the five-year trade agreement with the Soviet Union which expires in June. Further, in view of the increase in our exports to the Soviet Union and Rumania, I have decided to remove from the 1st May restrictions on imports from these countries on a range of goods imports of which from other East European countries have for some time been unrestricted. I am confident that this change will encourage further expansion of our trade on a mutually beneficial basis.
111WThis measure of liberalisation is not conditional on prior assurances on pricing policy, non-discrimination and purchases of United Kingdom goods; but we continue to attach importance to these matters and we expect satisfactory policies to be followed. We remain free to revert to quantitative control if we think this necessary. I wish our position in this respect to be clearly understood both at home and abroad.
These arrangements will be extended to imports from East Germany when I am satisfied with the current and future level of our exports to this territory.