§ Mr. David Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total tariff paid by value, and as a percentage of total value, of timber and timber products, including paper, imported in to the United Kingdom in 1972; and what is the tariff and the total tariff yield in each of the transitional years of entry to the EEC.
§ Sir G. HoweThe duty paid in 1972 on imports covered by Chapters 44, 45, 47 and 48 of the United Kingdom tariff was £9.3 million, representing 1.05 per cent. of total imports of £880 million. A large92W proportion of these imports entered duty-free, the principal suppliers being EFTA and Canada.
During the transition period any duties we now apply to imports from the rest of the Community will be abolished. Imports of timber and timber products from EFTA countries are expected to remain duty-free under agreements between them and the Community; from 1974 paper will be subject to special régimes, including duty-free quotas and ceilings. Except where the duties are nil, the CCT will from 1974 progressively apply to imports from Canada. There are duty-free quota arrangements for certain timber products from third countries, including Canada. If the hon. Member would like details of particular items in this wide field, I will gladly try to provide them. For a number of reasons it is not possible to estimate the future total tariff yield.