§ Mr. Terry Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Trade what benefits are being sought in the multilateral trade negotiations for British shoe exporters.
§ Mr. MeacherThe Community is hoping to negotiate reductions in tariffs and relaxations in quantitative restrictions in a number of markets of importance to the British footwear industry.
In particular, the EEC has sought the removal of quantitative restrictions on footwear from Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and has raised quantitative restrictions for footwear with some developing countries.
The question of export restrictions operated by certain countries on hides and skins is also being taken up in the negotiations.
The EEC is also seeking a general understanding that safeguard measures against imports which cause or threaten serious injury to domestic products can be taken selectively against those supplying countries whose exports are responsible for the damage.