§ Mr. Parryasked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on trade links between the United Kingdom and North Korea.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 20 January 1983, c. 188]: The United Kingdom has no governmental
432W(jumpers), 11 (gloves), 16 (woven suits), 17 (jackets), 32 (woven pile fabrics) and 66 (blankets). On some of these products quota levels have been agreed.
The following table shows the United Kingdom quota levels and actual imports of all categories which were under quota when the EC/China textiles agreement came into force on 1 January 1980: (See table 1)
In addition, the following quotas were agreed during the lifetime of the agreement: (See table 2)
Goods under quota are strictly controlled and licences are not issued in excess of the agreed levels. However, actual imports in any given year as recorded in the Overseas Trade Statistics, upon which the above tables are based, may vary from the quota levels given above. This is due to a number of factors such as the arrival of goods shipped in one quota year but arriving in the next; goods imported outside the quotas for re-export; and the revision of working quota levels by the limited amount of flexibility in quota use which is allowed for in the bilateral agreement.
The Community's bilateral textiles agreement with China will expire on 31 December 1983. Negotiations for its renewal are not expected to begin for some months.
trade links with North Korea. Some British companies do business with that country though the level of trade is small.