asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he intends to make any special efforts to encourage trade interaction with the Pacific Basin economies, in view of the potential in that part of the world.
Written Answers. - Trade Development.
20.
I propose to circulate a tabular statement giving details of Irish trade with all the countries of the Pacific Basin. It is part of CTT's ongoing activity to assist and promote trade with these countries.
These statistics show that the countries offering the best opportunities for Irish exporters in the Pacific Basin region are those such as the USA, Japan and Australia which already take a high level of Irish exports. Many of the other countries have just begun to accept our exports. Irish exports to South Korea, Taiwan, the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong in 1987 increased significantly in percentage terms but remain rather modest as regards total value.
In support of exporters to those regions I recently led a CTT trade mission to China and Hong Kong. Later this year, there will be similar trade missions to Japan and Australia. It is likely that the Taoiseach will also visit both of these countries later this year in an effort, among other things, to encourage further trade.
Irish Trade and Pacific Basin Economies
1987
|
Imports (£m) |
Exports (£m) |
Balance (E-I) |
|
|
Japan |
397.6m |
181.2m |
–216.4m |
|
Sth. Korea |
35.4m |
21.0m |
–14.4m |
|
Hong Kong |
51.0m |
27.4m |
–23.6m |
|
Taiwan |
75.7m |
24.6m |
–51.1m |
|
Singapore |
21.7m |
22.7m |
+1.0m |
|
China |
25.9m |
15.0m |
–10.9m |
|
Indonesia |
8.1m |
2.7m |
–5.4m |
|
Malaysia |
16.3m |
5.7m |
–10.6m |
|
Australia |
6.3m |
92.3m |
+ 86m |
|
New Zealand |
10.9m |
12.3m |
+1.4m |
|
Chile |
3.9m |
3.6m |
–0.3m |
|
Peru |
0.6m |
9.2m |
+8.6m |
|
Ecuador |
6.9m |
1.4m |
–5.5m |
|
Colombia |
3.8m |
2m |
–1.8m |
|
Mexico |
4.3m |
28.6m |
+24.3m |
|
Guatemala |
0.6m |
1.7m |
+1.1m |
|
El Salvador |
— |
0.3m |
+0.3m |
|
Nicaragua |
0.3m |
0.1m |
–0.2m |
|
Costa Rica |
0.3m |
1.6m |
+1.3m |
|
Panama |
— |
2.3m |
+2.3m |
|
U.S. |
1,555.4m |
883.8m |
–671.6m |