Trade Preferences (Hansard, 12 May 1971)

§ Mr. Roper
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of those Commonwealth developing countries at present offering reverse preferences to United Kingdom exports, who may thereby be prevented from benefiting from the United States offer under the United

1970 1970

United Kingdom United States

Commonwealth developing countries giving preferences to certain U.K. exports Imports Exports Imports Exports

£ £ U.S. $ U.S. $

million million million million

India … … … … 106.0 72.9 298.1 571.6

Pakistan … … … … 35.3 49.2 80.2 325.3

Ceylon … … … … 36.6 18.5 26.4 12.3

Malaysia … … … … 46.6 60.4 270.2 66.2

Singapore … … … … 33.5 62.5 81.1 238.7

Brunei … … … … 0.0 2.9 N/A N/A

Fiji … … … … 10.2 6.1 N/A N/A

Western Samoa … … … … 0.1 0.3 N/A N/A

Malawi … … … … 12.1 8.0 1.9 5.0

The Gambia … … … … 4.1 2.1 0.2 0.4

Swaziland … … … … 9.4 0.4 0.4 5.3

Lesotho … … … … 0.0 0.1

Botswana … … … … 3.2 0.4

Mauritius … … … … 22.5 5.9 2.2 4.9

Jamaica … … … … 27.5 38.2 185.7 217.4

Barbados … … … … 6.8 12.0 8.8 21.2

Trinidad and Tobago … … … … 19.3 28.1 235.6 84.0

Guyana … … … … 12.6 14.9 43.2 24.6

Cyprus … … … … 20.4 26.1 1.2 8.4

Malta … … … … 5.8 25.7 1.3 5.6

N/A = Not available.

In addition, United Kingdom goods enjoy preferences in a number of dependent territories and associated states for whose external relations we are responsible.

§ Mr. Roper
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what negotiations are taking place between the United Kingdom and developing Commonwealth countries which at present offer reverse preference to permit them to benefit from the United States of America offer of Generalised Trade Preferences under the United Nations Conference of Trade and Development scheme.

§ Mr. Anthony Grant
There have been discussions with most of the Commonwealth countries concerned about the implications for them of the United States offer of preferences, the terms of which have still to be announced.

§ Mr. Roper
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing, for the most recent convenient year, for each of the Commonwealth developing countries offering reverse pre-
138W
Nations Conference on Trade and Development Generalised Trade Preferences Scheme, showing in each case the value of trade in both directions between the country concerned and the United Kingdom and with the United States of America, from information available to him from international sources.

§ Mr. Anthony Grant
The information is as follows:
ferences to the United Kingdom, the value of United Kingdom exports benefiting from such preferences.

§ Mr. Anthony Grant
The information is not available in this form but I estimate that in 1970 something over £200 million of United Kingdom exports to Commonwealth developing countries benefited from some margin of preference. I shall send the hon. Member what additional information I have.

					1970	1970
					United Kingdom	United States
Commonwealth developing countries giving preferences to certain U.K. exports	Imports	Exports	Imports	Exports
					£	£	U.S. $	U.S. $
					million	million	million	million
India	…	…	…	…	106.0	72.9	298.1	571.6
Pakistan	…	…	…	…	35.3	49.2	80.2	325.3
Ceylon	…	…	…	…	36.6	18.5	26.4	12.3
Malaysia	…	…	…	…	46.6	60.4	270.2	66.2
Singapore	…	…	…	…	33.5	62.5	81.1	238.7
Brunei	…	…	…	…	0.0	2.9	N/A	N/A
Fiji	…	…	…	…	10.2	6.1	N/A	N/A
Western Samoa	…	…	…	…	0.1	0.3	N/A	N/A
Malawi	…	…	…	…	12.1	8.0	1.9	5.0
The Gambia	…	…	…	…	4.1	2.1	0.2	0.4
Swaziland	…	…	…	…	9.4	0.4	0.4	5.3
Lesotho	…	…	…	…	0.0	0.1
Botswana	…	…	…	…	3.2	0.4
Mauritius	…	…	…	…	22.5	5.9	2.2	4.9
Jamaica	…	…	…	…	27.5	38.2	185.7	217.4
Barbados	…	…	…	…	6.8	12.0	8.8	21.2
Trinidad and Tobago	…	…	…	…	19.3	28.1	235.6	84.0
Guyana	…	…	…	…	12.6	14.9	43.2	24.6
Cyprus	…	…	…	…	20.4	26.1	1.2	8.4
Malta	…	…	…	…	5.8	25.7	1.3	5.6
N/A = Not available.
In addition, United Kingdom goods enjoy preferences in a number of dependent territories and associated states for whose external relations we are responsible.