HC Deb 23 April 1971 vol 815 cc488-9W
Mr. Raison

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what tariff different grades of newspaper and magazine paper imported into the United Kingdom from Canada and Scandinavia will have to bear if the United Kingdom joins the European Economic community; and to ensure that if the United Kingdom whether the Government will take steps enters the European Economic Community tariffs on paper coming from such of these countries as do not also enter the European Economic Community will be lowered.

Mr. Noble

The current rates of duty published in the Common External Tariff are 7 per cent. for newsprint and 12.8 per cent. for paper for periodicals. However, the Community has established duty-free quota arrangements which permit virtually all imports of newsprint to be made free of duty, and we are considering together how these arrangements might be adapted to the circumstances of an enlarged Community.

We hope that the arrangements which Member States of E.F.T.A. are discussing with the Community will reflect, in this as in other sectors, the common desire to avoid re-erecting tariff barriers within Europe. Any modification of the Common Tariff would be a matter for the institutions of the enlarged Community.

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of European Economic Community exports went to developing countries in the latest available year; what

Butter Cheese and Curd Lamb
Exports to United Kingdom (tons) 173,592 68,004 272,574
Exports to United Kingdom as percentage by volume of total exports of commodity 89.1 76.3 86.3
Total exports of commodity as percentage by value of all exports to the world 10.3 4.2 14.6

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