HC Deb 25 June 1976 vol 913 cc685-6W
Mr. MacFarquhar

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what specific commodities have been raised by Ministers with their Japanese counterparts in discussions of possible limitations on Japanese exports to the United Kingdom; and at how many meetings each item has been raised.

Mr. Meacher

The Government take every opportunity of ministerial discussions to stress the seriousness of problems created by Japanese competition for a number of our industries, such as cars, consumer electronic products and ball-bearings; and to impress upon the Japanese authorities the need for continuing restraint in the sectors concerned.

Mr. MacFarquhar

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many times British Ministers have raised directly with their Japanese counterparts the United Kingdom's adverse trade balance with Japan.

Mr. Meacher

This subject has been regularly discussed whenever Ministers of the two Governments meet together, notably during the visits to Tokyo by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, when Secretary of State for Trade, last September, and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last month.

Mr. MacFarquhar

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the value of the main visible exports to Japan, item by item, in each of the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975;

(2) what was the value of the main imports from Japan, item by item, in each of the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

Mr. Meacher

This information is available from Tables I and III of Volume I of the Annual Statements of the Overseas Trade of the United Kingdom for 1970 to 1973 and from Tables II and V of the December issues of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom for 1974 and 1975.

Mr. MacFarquhar

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what specific steps he or his Department has taken since his appointment to improve the balance of trade with Japan;

(2) what new measures, as opposed to measures initiated by his predecessors, he has adopted since his appointment to attempt to improve the balance of trade with Japan.

Mr. Meacher

My right hon. Friend has himself discussed issues of Anglo-Japanese trade with the Japanese ambassador, and officials of my Department are in regular contact with the Japanese authorities about the import of specific products which cause concern to British industry. It was with my right hon. Friend's strong encouragement that the EEC delegation which visited Tokyo earlier this month laid particular emphasis on the trade deficit. This year the Exports to Japan Unit of my Department expects to support 22 outward missions, nine exhibitions at the British Export Marketing Centre in Tokyo, and five other joint ventures at international trade fairs in Japan, involving, in all, almost 600 British firms.

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