§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will outline the countries producing copper outside the United States of America and indicate the percentage interests held by foreign Governments in their domestic producers.
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§ Mr. DeakinsMany countries have mine production of copper. In addition to the United States of America, those whose annual production in 1972 exceeded 100,000 tons are (in alphabetical order):—
I regret that the information requested in the second part of the Question is not readily available.
- Australia
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Japan
- Papua and New Guinea
- Peru
- The Philippine Republic
- Poland
- South Africa
- The USSR
- Yugoslavia
- Zaire
- Zambia.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent commodity prices for metals are being exploited by Governments abroad who are forming or attempting to form producer cartels.
§ Mr. MeacherI have been asked to reply.
There is no current evidence of damaging restrictions. Prices on the London Metal Exchange are determined in free market conditions. Where producer price agreements for metals exist these are in the interests of both producers and consumers.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent the price of copper, zinc and tin has led to the use of substitute materials in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MeacherI have been asked to reply.
Where technically possible substitute materials have been increasingly used in place of copper, zinc and tin for some years. The process is likely to increase if metal prices remain at their present high levels.