§ Mr. Willeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on EEC preferences in favour of developing countries ; and when a final decision will be made.
§ Mr. John DaviesThe EEC operates a generalised scheme of preferences in favour of the developing countries which provides for tariff concessions on a wide range of products of interest to developing countries. In accordance with the Treaty of Accession the United Kingdom has now aligned itself with this system. The scheme is subject to annual review at which, in accordance with the Paris summit communiqué, the Community seeks to improve it. Negotiations are also in progress under Protocol 22 of the Accession Treaty for successor arrangements to the Yaoundé and Arusha Conventions under which tariff-free access to 323W the Community market is likely to be enjoyed by the 43 developing countries concerned, many of which are Commonwealth countries.