§ Mr. Alexanderasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what limitations there are on the importation of articles of apparel and clothing accessories from (a) Taiwan, (b) South Korea and (c) Romania; and why one differs from another.
§ Mr. ChannonThe quotas for 1985 are as follows:
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Category number Product Quota level (a) Taiwan 4 T-shirts 1,042,000 pieces 5 Jerseys 7,136,000 pieces 6 Trousers 347,000 pieces 7 Blouses 277,000 pieces 8 Woven shirts 788,000 pieces 10 Gloves 2,419,000 pairs of which uncoated gloves 519,000 pairs 12 Stockings, socks 5,299,000 pairs 13 Knickers, underpants 168,000 pieces 14A Men's coated coats 199,000 pieces 14B Men's uncoated coats 33,000 pieces 15A Women's coated coats 99,000 pieces 15B Women's uncoated coats 61,000 pieces 16 Men's suits 35,000 pieces 17 Men's jackets 65,000 pieces 18 Men's woven undergarments other than shirts 132 tomes 19 Handkerchiefs 759,000 pieces 21 Parkas, anoraks etc. 128,000 pieces 24 Knitted pyjamas 221,000 pieces 26 Dresses 137,000 pieces 27 Skirts 106,000 pieces 28 Knitted trousers 91,000 pieces 29 Women's woven suits 61,000 pieces 30A Women's woven pyjamas and nightdresses 172,000 pieces 30B Women's woven undergarments 10.4 tonnes 31 Brassieres 335,000 pieces 67 Clothing accessories 192 tonnes 71 Babies knitted outergarments 11 tonnes 73 Track suits 217,000 pieces 74 Women's knitted suits 36 tonnes 75 Men's knitted suits 5,000 pieces 78 & 81 Men's and Women's bathrobes, dressing gowns etc. 358 tonnes 78 Of which, not more for men's bathrobes, dressing gowns etc. 186 tonnes 80 Babies woven garments 45 tonnes 83 Knitted outergarments other than Categories 5, 7, 26, 27, 28, 71 to 75 268 tonnes (b) South Korea 4 T-shirts 1,915,000 pieces 5 Jerseys 11,366,000 pieces 6 Trousers 1,364,000 pieces 7 Blouses 2,968,000 pieces 8 Woven shirts 2,697,000 pieces 10 Gloves 2,292,000 pairs of which uncoated gloves 198,000 pairs 12 Stockings, socks 9,992,000 pairs 13 Knickers, underpants 2,152,000 pieces 14A* Men's coated coats 1,057,000 pieces 14B Men's uncoated coats 636,000 pieces 15A* Women's coated coats 444,000 pieces 15B Women's uncoated coats 1,731,000 pieces 16 Men's suits 275,000 pieces 17 Men's jackets 1,153,000 pieces 18 Men's woven undergarments other than shirts 82 tonnes 19 Handkerchiefs 2,800,000 pieces 21 Parkas, anoraks etc. 2,647,000 pieces
24 Knitted pyjamas 412,000 pieces 26 Dresses 455,000 pieces 27 Skirts 92,000 pieces 28 Knitted trousers 104,000 pieces 29† Women's woven suits 173,000 pieces 30A Women's woven pyjamas and nightdresses 134,000 pieces 30B Women's woven undergarments 8 tomes 31 Brassieres 527,000 pieces 67 Clothing accessories 601 tonnes 70 Tights 2,070,000 pieces 71 Babies knitted outergarments 39 tonnes 73 Track suits 160,000 pieces 74 Women's knitted suits 161,000 pieces 78 & 81‡ Men's and Women's bathrobes, dressing gowns etc. 779 tonnes 78 Of which, not more for men's bathrobes, dressing gowns etc. 344 tonnes 80 Babies woven garments 107 tonnes 83 Knitted outergarments other than Categories 5, 7, 26, 27, 28, 71 to 75 273 tonnes 86 Corsets 522,000 pieces (c) Romania 4 T-shirts 3,017,000 pieces 5 Jerseys 1,360,000 pieces 6 Trousers 325,000 pieces 7 Blouses 45,000 pieces 8 Woven shirts 784,000 pieces 12 Stockings, socks 2,078,000 pairs 13 Knickers, underpants 2,091,000 pieces 14B Men's uncoated coats 35,000 pieces 15A Women's coated coats 6,000 pieces 15B Women's uncoated coats 83,000 pieces 16 Men's suits 360,000 pieces 17 Men's jackets 213,000 pieces 24 Knitted pyjamas 201,000 pieces 26 Dresses 144,000 pieces 28 Knitted trousers 97,000 pieces 71 Babies knitted outergarments 19 tonnes 73 Track suits 118 tonnes 77 Women's synthetic stockings 201,000 pairs 81 Women's bathrobes, dressing gowns 31 tonnes 82 Knitted undergarments of wool or regenerated fibre 140 tonnes * Including garments of textile fabric of tariff heading numbers 59.08, 59.11 or 59.12. † For judo, karate, kung fu, taekwondo and similar martial arts suits there is additional quota of 23,000 pieces. ‡ Excluding garments of textile fabric of tariff heading numbers 59.08, 59.11 or 59.12. The quotas on South Korea and Romania were negotiated with those countries by the European Commission under the provisions of the multi-fibre arrangement (MFA). Taiwan is subject to an autonomous regime.
Articles 3 and 4 of the MFA lay down the circumstances in which quotas may be introduced. Quota coverage, and the levels for particular quotas, may differ from one exporting country to another for a variety of reasons. For example, the development of trade in particular products from the exporting country in question, and United Kingdom market conditions, are taken into account. Quotas may also be subject to different annual growth rates; in general, the major exporting countries have accepted the lowest growth rates.