asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement on the extent of our trading relationship with South Africa, in particular, if he will give a breakdown of the major items imported from and exported to that country; and if he will give an indication of the likely effects on the Irish economy of possible trade sanctions by this country against South Africa.
Written Answers. - Trade with South Africa.
34.
Limerick East): Total trade between Ireland and South Africa has grown from £22.726 million in 1980 to £49.956 million in 1985. Exports in 1985 amounted to £29.551 million ranking South Africa as our 27th export market in that year. Imports from South Africa in 1985 amounted to £20.405 million giving Ireland therefore a trade surplus of £9.145 million
Our principle exports by classification in 1985 to South Africa were organic chemicals, office machines and ADP equipment, medicinal and pharmaceutical products, industrial machinery and miscellaneous edible products.
Our main imports by classification from South Africa in 1985 were fruit and vegetables, coal, coke and briquettes, fertilisers, textiles and iron and steel.
The Deputy will be aware that the Government decided on 20 March 1986 to introduce a system of licensing for the importation, from 1 October 1986, of South African fruit and vegetables. The Department of Agriculture will be the licensing agency. The principal products involved are fruit, nuts or vegetables whether fresh, dried, frozen, tinned or in other processed or preserved form including extracts and juices produced or manufactured in South Africa. It is not possible to quantify the exact effects which these restrictions will have but given past consumption it is obvious that similar products must be sought elsewhere.
The South Africans have already made demarches to countries including Ireland which have taken sanctions against them. It is, therefore not unlikely that there will be exchanges under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
35.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will list the categories of imports and exports with a value exceeding £1 million a year; and the total value of trade between Ireland and South Africa during 1985 and the first four months of this year.
Limerick East): The categories of imports in 1985 with a value exceeding £1 million were:
(1) fruit and vegetables; (ii) coal, coke and briquettes; (iii) petroleum; (iv) sugar, sugar preparations and honey; (v) textile yarn fabrics; (vi) iron and steel and; (vii) manufactures of metal.
The categories of exports in 1985 with a value exceeding £1 million were: (i) organic chemicals; (ii) office machines and ADP equipment; (iii) medicinal and pharmaceutical products; (iv) miscellaneous edible products; (v) manufactures of metal; (vi) general industrial machinery and equipment; (vii) professional, scientific and controlling apparatus, and (viii) miscellaneous manufactured articles.
Total trade between Ireland and South Africa in 1985 came to £49.956 million. Irish exports were £29.551 million while South African imports were £20.405 million. Total trade between Ireland and South Africa during the first four months of this year was £14.061 million. Our exports were £7.852 million and imports were £6.209 million.