asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the tariffs between the United Kingdom and Israel with regard to manufactured goods; how these tariffs have changed and are scheduled to change between 1975 and 1988; and if he will make a statement.
Tariffs between the United Kingdom and Israel are subject to the provisions of the 1975 agreement between the European Economic Community and the state of Israel as amended by subsequent protocols. Community tariffs on imports of manufactured goods from Israel were phased out between 1975 and 1977. Israeli tariffs on imports of manufactured goods from the Community are being progressively reduced according to a timetable in the third additional protocol to the agreement. Under this timetable duty-free access will be achieved on 1 January 1989.Copies of the agreement and related protocols are available for reference in the Library of the House.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advantages Israel enjoys in trade in agricultural produce with the European Economic Community compared with North African countries.
Trade between the Community and Israel is governed by the 1975 EEC/Israel agreement. Under this agreement Israel's agricultural exports enjoy preferential access on a rather more limited scale than that accorded to the Community's other Mediterranean partners, including those in north Africa. On the other hand Israel benefits in that some 55 per cent. of her agricultural exports are of products which are not subject to the constraints of the EC reference price system.