asked the Taoiseach the total exports to and the total imports from communist countries for 1965 and 1969; and what the Government intends to do about the imbalance of trade with these countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade with Communist Countries.
2.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate, with the Official Report, a tabular statement setting out the information sought in the first part of the question.
In the case of countries with which we have an adverse trade balance, the general aim is to seek to improve the position by encouraging the expansion of exports.
The question of what special action might be taken to secure an increase in exports to State-trading countries, particularly those with whom our trade is in serious imbalance, is kept under continuous review by the Government Departments concerned. During the past year a trade agreement has been concluded with Bulgaria and preliminary discussions on questions of trade, including the possibility of concluding trade agreements, have taken place with a number of the other countries concerned, namely, the USSR, Poland and Czechslovakia. Discussions with Rumania are being arranged.
As the Deputy is, no doubt, aware, the Government, through Córas Tráchtála, has made a wide range of grants, incentives and other services available to exporters. As part of its range of services, Córas Tráchtála established an office in Vienna early this year which has special responsibility for developing exports to Eastern Europe.
Following is the statement:
|
Country |
Total Imports |
Total Exports |
||
|
1965 |
1969 |
1965 |
1969 |
|
|
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
|
Bulgaria |
17,650 |
93,991 |
55 |
10,811 |
|
Hungary |
108,229 |
263,586 |
38,955 |
214,836 |
|
Poland |
2,891,095 |
5,456,671 |
379,394 |
1,171,613 |
|
Rumania |
140,957 |
586,469 |
42 |
70,022 |
|
Czechoslovakia |
538,019 |
1,388,480 |
209,462 |
159,403 |
|
USSR |
1,121,241 |
1,785,271 |
750,116 |
224,281 |
|
Germany, Eastern |
1,146,576 |
462,047 |
204,393 |
73,740 |
|
Albania |
41 |
4,138 |
— |
— |
|
Yugoslavia |
234,118 |
433,144 |
5,995 |
688,021 |
|
Korea, North |
13,542 |
10,849 |
— |
— |
|
China (excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan) |
438,991 |
1,125,769 |
4,188 |
45 |
|
Mongolia |
13,009 |
18,540 |
— |
— |
|
Vietnam, North |
220 |
3,868 |
3,393 |
— |
|
Cuba |
168,963 |
212,653 |
12,623 |
1,402 |
|
Totals of above |
6,832,651 |
11,845,476 |
1,608,616 |
2,614,174 |