HC Deb 23 November 1979 vol 974 c373W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade against what countries or industrial sectors the United Kingdom currently operates selective import controls.

Mr. Eyre

The main area covered by import restrictions is textiles and clothing, where the major part of low-cost imports from some 42 countries are subject to various forms of restraint arrangements.

SHARES IN TOTAL WORLD EXPORTS OF GOODS PERCENT
United Kingdom France West Germany Italy Belgium/Luxembourg Denmark Netherlands Ireland
1948 11.6 3.7 1.4 1.9 3.0 1.0 1.8 0.4
1953 9.0 4.9 5.7 1.8 2.7 1.1 2.6 0.4
1964 7.4 5.2 9.4 3.5 3.2 1.2 3.4 0.4
1970 6.2 5.7 10.9 4.2 3.7 1.1 3.8 0.3
1978p 5.5 5.9 10.9 4.3 3.4 0.9 3.9 0.4
p provisional
Sources:
United Nations statistical yearbooks 1971,1972 and 1977
United Nations monthly bulletin June 1979

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