§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the reasons why the United Kingdom representative failed to give a firm response at the consultation meeting between the European Community Commission and member states in committee 288 on 5 December regarding the Commission's inquiry into footwear imports from South Korea and Taiwan; and what advice his Department subsequently gave to the Commission by the stated target date for comments of 15 December.
§ Mr. Redwood[holding answer 18 December 1989]: My noble Friend the Minister for Trade had been carefully considering the views expressed by the industry and other member states before reaching a final decision on how the United Kingdom should respond to the Commission's report following its inquiry into imports of footwear from South Korea and Taiwan. He has concluded that the report does not make out an economic case for restrictions on imports of footwear from Taiwan and South Korea. The Commission has been told that consistently with our general approach on trade policy issues the United Kingdom Government are therefore opposed to such safeguard action on imports of footwear from South Korea and Taiwan. We have, however, suggested to the Commission that if they were to propose some form of surveillance licensing we would give this sympathetic consideration.