asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will show in tabular form, by product, the amount of tariff, quota and other import restrictions operated by the EEC against imports from non-member countries at this time, for all the products of the Irish industrial and agricultural sectors.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Import Restrictions.
17.
It would not be practicable to provide a tabular statement as requested by the Deputy. However, in order to facilitate the Deputy, I am arranging to have a copy of the Community's common customs tariff placed in the Library.
While questions concerning the EEC arrangements in the agricultural sector should properly be addressed to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, I understand that EEC levies on agricultural products change frequently— some even daily—and details of these are published in the Official Journal of the Community.
The Community as such does not maintain any quantitative or other restrictions, apart from tariffs, on imports. Individual member States, however, may maintain quantitative restrictions on the importation of products which have not been liberalised by the Community. Products which have been liberalised by the Community are listed in 19 EEC regulations, copies of which are being placed in the Library.
In addition, under certain bilateral agreements concluded between the Community and a number of countries, these countries agree to limit their exports of specified products to the Community.
May I ask the Minister to let me have a copy of the common customs tariff?
I shall send the Deputy a copy.
Can the Minister state whether the common customs tariff document which is being placed in the Library is up-dated to take account of the GATT tariff reductions made under the Kennedy Round? Can the Minister state the date of this edition?
I do not know the actual date but it is the most recent copy available.
Is it the current edition, applicable today?
I take it that it is the current edition. I see no reason why it should be out-of-date.
The Minister is being a little naïve. Frequently tariffs are produced and are allowed stand for a number of years. It is left to the person to apply the reductions that have taken place under GATT. What I wish to know is whether the GATT reductions will be shown, or is it necessary to apply them oneself. If this is so, we shall have to ask the Minister for details of all the GATT reductions.
It would be as well if the Deputy put down a question of that nature.
18.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the products which are exempted from free trade by the EEC in any trading agreements between the communities and non-member countries; and if he will indicate the amount of tariffs and other import restrictions at present for each of the products so exempted.
I take it that, as in the case of Question No. 17, the Deputy's question refers to the position as regards admission to the Community of the products of the non-member countries concerned. It is only the association agreements, excluding that with Malta, that can be regarded as providing for free trade. These are the agreements made with (1) the Associated African and Malagasy States (2) the East African Community, (3) the countries known as the Community's "Overseas Countries and Territories", (4) Greece, and (5) Turkey. None of these agreements premanently excludes any industrial products from free trade with the Community.