HC Deb 19 February 1971 vol 811 c590W
Mr. Moate

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a full list of tariff charges that would apply to countries outside the Common Market and excluding other applicant countries, should Great Britain join the European Economic Community, showing the new rates compared with the rates that would otherwise apply at that time and specifying separately those countries enjoying preferential access for products that would be subject to the common external tariff.

Mr. Noble

No. The existing United Kingdom duties would be progressively changed over a transitional period. Thereafter the United Kingdom would charge the full and various preferential rates of duty laid down in the European Economic Community's tariff legislation. The details, particularly as to timing and the application of particular rates to particular countries, depend on the outcome of the present negotiations with the Community, and the results will, of course, be published in due course if the United Kingdom joins the European Economic Community.