§ Mrs. Lena Jegerasked the President of the Board of Trade what discussions have taken place with the Government of South Africa about tariff charges on British exports, especially textiles; whether these tariffs are within the rules of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NobleProposals to increase South African tariffs on particular goods arise from time to time and when necessary we make our views known to the South African Government. This was done during the recent South African review of their tariffs on textiles. South Africa is currently in touch with us and with other countries about revision of certain tariff commitments under G.A.T.T. We are not aware that any existing South African tariffs on our exports conflict with G.A.T.T.
§ Mrs. Lena Jegerasked the President of the Board of Trade what quantitative restrictions are applied by the Government of South Africa to British imports; and what tariffs or other restrictions are applied by Her Majesty's Government to South African imports to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. NobleSouth Africa has quantitative controls, details of which were published in theBoard of Trade Journal on 31st December, 1969, on certain imports from all countries. Our imports from South Africa are subject to the tariffs applying generally to imports from countries in the Commonwealth Preference Area, to the import controls applicable to the Scheduled Territories, and to quantitative restrictions on cotton textiles.