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Textile And Clothing (Imports)

Volume 83: debated on Monday 22 July 1985

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asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list total United Kingdom textile and clothing imports from Taiwan in 1984 and compare it with Taiwan textile and clothing imports from the United Kingdom in the same year;(2) what was the toal of United Kingdom textile and clothing imports from Brazil in 1984; and how this compares with Brazilian textile and clothing imports from the United Kingdom in the same year;(3) if he will list total United Kingdom textile and clothing imports from Korea in 1984, and total Korean textile and clothing imports from the United Kingdom in the same year.

The information is as follows:

Value £ million
United Kingdom imports (cif)United Kingdom exports (fob)
Taiwan68·33·5
Brazil16·31·6
South Korea152·56·2

Source:

Data corresponding to SITC/R2 Divisions 65 and 84 (less Group 848), Groups 266 and 267 and Sub-group 268·7 (part).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the United Kingdom tariff on garment imports from Brazil; and how this compares with the Brazilian tariff on garment imports from the United Kingdom;(2) what is the total United Kingdom tariff on fabric imports from Brazil; and how this compares with the Brazilian tariff on fabric imports from the United Kingdom;(3) what is the United Kingdom tariff on fabric imports from Taiwan; and how this compares with the Taiwan tariff on fabric imports from the United Kingdom;(4) what is the United Kingdom tariff on garment imports from Taiwan; and how this compares with the Taiwan tariff on garment imports from the United Kingdom;(5) if he will list the United Kingdom tariff on garment imports from Korea, and the current Korean tariff on garment imports from the United Kingdom;(6) what is the current United Kingdom tariff on fabric imports from Korea, and the similar Korean tariff on fabric imports from the United Kingdom.

The broad ranges of these tariffs are:

United KingdomBrazilTaiwanKorea
per cent.per cent.per cent.per cent.
Fabrics3·5 to 17·320 to 1051·25* to 7520 to 40
Garments5·4 to 15·345 to 1051·25* to 7520 to 40
* Exceptional.
but these ranges conceal wide variations, and some United Kingdom tariffs on imports from Brazil and Korea are, within certain limits for sensitive products, waived under the European Communities' generalised scheme of preference.

Full information is available in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise tariff and extracts from the tariff schedules of Brazil, Taiwan and the Republic of Korea, all of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and industry to what extent exports from the United Kingdom to Brazil of garments, fabrics, textile and clothing are limited by Government ban; and how this compares with the importation of these products from Brazil.

Brazil has suspended the issue of import licences for garments, fabrics, textiles and clothing, under the following CCCN chapter headings:

  • 50 (Silk and silk waste)
  • 53 (Wool and other animal hair)
  • 55 (Cotton)
  • 58 (Carpets, mats, matting and tapestries, pile and chenille fabrics, trimmings, tulle and other net fabrics, lace and embroidery)
  • 60 (Knitted and crocheted goods)
  • 61 (Articles of apparel or clothing, accessories of textile fabric other than knitted and crocheted goods)
  • 62 (Other made up textile materials)
  • 63 (Old clothing and other textile articles and rags)
The United Kingdom does not operate any ban on Brazilian textile and clothing imports of these products, but the European Community, in respect of the United Kingdom market, restricts imports in 13 MFA categories under the provisions of the bilateral agreement between the European Community and Brazil, negotiated under the Multi-Fibre Arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent exports from the United Kingdom to Taiwan of garments, fabrics, textiles, and clothing, are limited by import restrictions.

United Kingdom exports of garments, fabrics, textiles and clothing to Taiwan are subject to no quantitative restrictions, although import licences are required. Such licences are in general readily available.