§ Mr. DafisTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to raise import duties on tropical timber and tropical timber products imported into the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. NeedhamNo. The United Kingdom applies the European Community's common external tariff, which is negotiated and agreed by all EC member states and cannot be changed on an individual national basis. If the EC were to raise its import duties, it would be obliged under the rules of the general agreement on tariffs and trade, to offer offsetting tariff reductions on items of interest to the countries affected by such increases.
Furthermore, restricting trade in tropical timber would mean that forest dwellers who depend on such trade would be forced to seek alternative ways to exploit the forests for economic gain, possibly including using the timber for fuel or clearing the land for cultivation. The Government therefore aim rather to promote the sustainable management of tropical forests which takes into account the needs of their animal, plant and human inhabitants. In this context, the European Community will shortly begin the renegotiation of the international tropical timber agreement.
§ Mr. Jon Owen JonesTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the importation of tropical hardwoods.
§ Mr. NeedhamExcept as provided for under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, there are no restrictions on the import of tropical hardwoods into the United Kingdom. The Government pursue a coherent policy to encourage sustainable management of tropical forests and do not consider that any wider restrictions on timber imports are practicable or desirable.