§ Mr. Jayasked the Secretary of State for Trade what tariffs are now imposed on United Kingdom exports of manufactures to Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria, India and the West Indies; and whether other countries now enjoy the same or more favourable access to these markets.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to the reply, 19 November 1981, c. 208.]: I regret that a complete answer could be provided only at dis-proportionate cost. The information which follows is therefore illustrative rather than comprehensive.
Australia
Tariffs average 26 per cent., but can be over 60 per cent. For example, tariffs on boilers, electrical and mechanical appliances, equipment and parts range between 0–2 per cent. and 37.5 per cent. Tariffs on vehicles range between 0–2 per cent. and 131.5 per cent.The last tariff preferences on imports from the United Kingdom were removed with effect from 1 July 1981. Australia allows preferential duty entry to specified goods from New Zealand under the New Zealand-Australia free trade agreement; from Canada—a few selected goods only—under Commonwealth preference; from Papua New Guinea because of a special trade relationship; and from a list of designated developing coutries.New Zealand
Tariffs vary considerably according to product. For example, tariffs on boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances range from free to 40 per cent.; electrical machinery and equipment from free to 65 per cent.; vehicles from free to 55 per cent.United Kingdom exports of vehicles and automotive products only retain Commonwealth preference. Some goods from Australia receive preferences under the New Zealand-Australia free trade agreement; a few selected goods only from Canada do so under Commonwealth preference; and a list of designated developing countries also receive preferences.Nigeria
Examples of Nigerian tariffs are as follows: boilers (industrial) 5 per cent., other 33.3 per cent.; bulldozers 5 per cent.; road tractors 10 per cent.; agricultural tractors free; textiles 10 to 50 per cent.; clothing up to 100 per cent.; footwear up to 100 per cent.No preferential rates are given to any country or group of countries trading with Nigeria.India
116WIndia applies two categories of tariff, standard and preferential. Illustrative duties on manufactures are as follows: boilers (standard) 40 per cent., (preferential) 20 per cent.; bulldozers and associated equipment 40 per cent.,—there is no preferential rate; tractors 40 per cent.,—there is no preferential rate.Preferential rates are given to a number of developing countries under the protocol relating to trade negotiations among developing countries concluded in 1971 and under a co-operation agreement between India, Yugoslavia and Egypt. These preferential rates are not uniform but vary by product.West Indies
Independent Commonwealth countries of the Caribbean. Duties vary from country to country. Illustrative examples are in the following table.Within the Caribbean community and Common Market—CARICOM—Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad operate a common external tariff. The islands of the eastern Caribbean operate a different tariff, as does Belize. Special preferential rates apply to intra-CARICOM trade.
Item and Country Charge Ad Val percentage Woven Wool Fabric Barbados Import Duty 40 Consumption Tax 5 Guyana Import Duty 40 Consumption Tax 8 Jamaica Import Duty 40 Stamp Duty 10 Trinidad Import Duty 40 Paint Barbados Import Duty 45 Consumption Tax 5 Guyana Import Duty 45 Consumption Tax 10 Jamaica Import Duty 45 Consumption Tax 27½ Stamp Duty 10 Trinidad Import Duty 45 Household Cutlery Barbados Import Duty 25 Consumption Tax 5 Guyana Import Duty 25 Consumption Tax 18 Jamaica Import Duty 25 Consumption Tax 32½ Stamp Duty 10 Trinidad Import Duty 25 * Purchase Tax 25 Weighing Machinery Barbados Import Duty 30 Consumption Tax 5 Guyana Import Duty 30 Consumption Tax 8 Jamaica Import Duty 30 Consumption Tax 32½ Trinidad Import Duty 30 * Purchase Tax is levied on the duty paid value of the goods.