HC Deb 06 June 1978 vol 951 cc72-3W
Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what figures are available of the value and volume of Japanese bearings imported into Great Britain.

Mr. Meacher

Following is the latest available information for United Kingdom imports of bearings consigned from Japan:—

Metric tones £ thousand
April 1977-March 1978
Bearings:
Ball 1,597.6 5,334
Needle roller 6.9 73
Tapered roller 964.0 2,173
Cylindrical roller 205.0 593
Spherical roller 169.5 380
Other ball, roller or needle roller 51.3 197
Plain shaft* 45.0 383
Parts of ball, roller or needle roller bearings 840.0 1,744
Housings for ball, roller or needle roller bearings, whether or not incorporating bearings* 374.3 542
Plain housings, with or without plain bearings† (0.4) (2)
May 1977-April 1978
Ball, roller or needle roller bearings and parts thereof 3,686.0 10,202
April 1977-March 1978
Ball, roller or needle roller bearings and parts thereof 3,834.2 10,494
* Including parts, April-December 1977 only.
† January-April 1978 only

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will open bilateral negotiations with the Japanese Government aimed at reducing the imports of Japanese bearings to Great Britain.

Mr. Meacher

No. The European industry was concerned at the increasing share of the market being taken by low-priced imports from Japan and therefore applied for anti-dumping action. An antidumping duty was imposed at 15 per cent. but was suspended when the Japanese gave an undertaking to the EEC Commission in July last year to increase their prices by around 20 per cent., and as a result these imports are subject to Community price surveillance.

Total Japanese imports of ball, roller and needle roller bearings into the United Kingdom were as follows:

1977 tonnes
1st quarter 1,169
2nd quarter 1,001
3rd quarter 924
4th quarter 1,116
1978
1st quarter 793

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