§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister for Trade what amount of steel the United States authorities were prepared to admit to their domestic market on the basis that the countervailing duties would be removed; and what relationship this total offer bore, for the United Kingdom and the European Economic Community, respectively, to the acutal amounts which they exported to the United States of America in 1980.
§ Mr. Peter ReesThe countervailing duty and anti-dumping investigations undertaken by the United States Administration are the subject of negotiations between the United States and the Community, and it would not therefore be in the best interests of the Community steel producers concerned to give the information requested.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister for Trade why the European Economic Community rejected the proposal from the United States of America to remove their tariff restrictions on European Economic Community steel imports if the level of these imports was contained.
§ Mr. Peter ReesThe United States authorities were insisting on a level of imports which the Community found to be unacceptably low.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister for Trade if he will explain the nature and consequences of the exclusive mandate given to the European Economic Community Commission to negotiate an agreement with the United States of America on steel imports; and if any such agreement negotiated by the Commission will be subject to the approval of Ministers or Parliament.
§ Mr. Peter ReesAs I said in my statement to the House on 26 July, a mandate has been given by the Council for the European Commission to negotiate with the United States a settlement of this dispute on a comprehensive basis. The Community's negotiating position is in preparation. It is within the Commission's competence to negotiate a settlement subject to approval by the Council of Ministers.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister for Trade what percentage of European Economic Community exports of steel to the United States of America in 1981 came from the United Kingdom; and if he will insist that any arrangements between the European Economic Community Commission and the United States authorities will guarantee the United Kingdom a similar share of European Economic Community steel exports to the United States of America.
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§ Mr. Peter ReesAbout 8.8 per cent. by volume of total steel exports to the United States from the Community came from the United Kingdom. I cannot forecast what the Community's negotiating position in further discussions with the United States will be, but we shall ensure that the interests of the United Kingdom steel industry, both public and private, are taken fully into account.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister for Trade (1) if he will publish a table showing the number of tons of steel which the United Kingdom exported to the United States of America in each of the past 10 years;
(2) if he will publish a table showing the number of tons of steel which the European Economic Community exported to the United States of America in each of the past 10 years.
§ Mr. Peter ReesI shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.