§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the differences between the present United Kingdom scheme of generalised tariff preferences and the improved EEC scheme proposed by the EEC Commission.
§ Sir G. HoweThe generalised preference scheme of the enlarged Community provides that for a certain number of industrial products preferential access is limited by quotas and there are restrictions—"butoirs"—on the share of these quotas that can be taken up by any individual beneficiary under the scheme. The United Kingdom scheme relies on a general safeguard provision and does not, therefore, include duty-free quota arrangements. The United Kingdom scheme has a wider coverage of agricultural products but excludes textiles.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the United Kingdom share of 22 per cent. of EEC tariff quotas under the proposed EEC generalised preference scheme ; and if this would represent any change in volume from the tariff quotas granted by the United Kingdom under its own generalised preference scheme.
§ Sir G. HoweThe 22 per cent. share of tariff quotas to be allocated to the United Kingdom is based on an accepted EEC formula which takes account of 503W levels of external trade, gross national product and population in the member States. The United Kingdom scheme does not have tariff quotas.
§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will oppose the proposed EEC tariff of 3.2 per cent. on shrimps and prawns imported into the United Kingdom from Asian Commonwealth countries, which at present enjoy a nil percentage tariff under Commonwealth preference;
(2) what representations he has received from Asian Commonwealth countries about the EEC proposals to modify the effects of the replacement of Commonwealth preference by the first stage of a transition to the EEC common external tariff on 1st January 1974; and what action he proposes to take;
(3) if he will oppose any increase in the United Kingdom tariff on tobacco from Asian Commonwealth countries as proposed by the EEC.
§ Sir G. HoweCommonwealth countries in Asia have made clear to the Community their interests in individual items of trade, with particular reference to the generalised preference scheme of the enlarged Community. We have supported these representations. The Community will, as a first step, include a number of items of particular interest to Commonwealth countries in Asia in the Community's generalised preference scheme for 1974. I expect shrimps and prawns and tobacco to be covered.