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New Market May Give Export Boost

5th June 1959, Page 100
5th June 1959
Page 100
Page 100, 5th June 1959 — New Market May Give Export Boost
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

IF the plan to form a group of trading 1 countries rival to the European Common Market should come off, British exporters of commercial vehicles will have the chance to score heavily over competition from Western Germany. If the situation resolves into a loss of British business in the Common Market to the benefit of the Germans, with a corresponding toss of German trade in the new market to the credit of the

British, this country will stand to gain far more than it gives up.

The accompanying two tables show Society of Motor' Manufacturers and Traders figures for the 1957 imports from Britain and Western Germany of the countries in the Common Market and those in the proposed bloc. Eventual abolition of tariffs in the Common Market will probably mean, taking that year's . statistics as a basis, that the Germans can raise their exports to their fellow countries in that alliance from 13,681 by 3,307 at Britain's -expense.

On the other hand, if the same occurs in the proposed market, but to our advantage, British exports may be increased from 6,460. by 21,388. This is chiefly because the Germans are selling heavily in the countries concerned. In a nutshell, Britain will give, up trade amounting to 3,307 vehicles and gain 21,388, whereas the Germans will suffer vice versa,

Britain's only substantial rival in the proposed market would be Sweden, Whose manufacturers could be expected to exploit their opportunities with equal vigour. .1n 1957, they sold 66 vehicles in what is now the Common Market, but 2,470 to the other countries interested in the new scheme. Of these, Norway bought 1,508, Denmark 489 and Portugal 413.

Neither Austria nor Switzerland is a big vehicle producer. Austria made 4,250 commercial vehicles in 1957, whilst Swiss output was only a few hundred.


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