§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will confirm that the 313 tons of fabric to be allowed into the United Kingdom from Turkey during the next six months under an EEC draft regulation for tariff quotas is approximately 10 times the current annual rate of all fabric imports from Turkey; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MeacherI can confirm the facts stated by the hon. Member. I should point out, however, that what is at issue is not a quota in the ordinary sense but a ceiling within which imports will be admitted at a concessionary tariff rate. There are safeguard provisions in the EEC Association Agreement with Turkey which could be invoked should imports from Turkey of this or other products reach levels which cause, or threaten to cause, disruption to the United Kingdom industry. At present, however, Turkey's share of the domestic market for cotton fabric is only 0.03 per cent.