§ Mr. Hillasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will send a Government-sponsored trade mission to Taiwan.
§ Mr. ChannonI regret that I cannot send a Government-sponsored trade mission to Taiwan, because we have no diplomatic relations with that territory. However, I am happy for any bodies such as chambers of commerce or trade associations to sponsor trade missions to Taiwan.
Lord Jellicoe, in his capacity as chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board, led a small high-level trade mission to Taiwan last August. I hope that this will lead to an increase in exports from Britain to Taiwan, and a reduction in our large adverse trade balance.