§ 31. Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give details of the main trading advantages that the United Kingdom gives to developing countries.
§ Mr. ParkinsonThe United Kingdom, as a member of the European Community, has removed or reduced a number of barriers to trade in the context of the Tokyo round of multilateral trade negotiations, the generalised scheme of preferences, and the Lomé Convention.
The generalised scheme of preferences, which was renewed in January 1981, affords preferential entry to imports from developing countries. All industrial products are granted duty free access, subject to quantitive limits on products sensitive to Community industries; and preferential entry is extended to a range of agricultural products. More favourable preferences are enjoyed by the 61 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries parties to the second Lomé Convention, which runs until 1985. The convention gives duty-free access to the Community for industrial goods originating in those countries and duty free or reduced duty access for some agricultural products. The overseas countries and territories associated with member States of the Community also receive similar concessions.
Fuller details are to be found in the White Paper on the Tokyo Round (Cmnd. 7724) and in the texts of the generalised scheme of preferences and the second Lomé Convention which are in the Library of the House.