TNAG-0453-FCO40-518-Budget-of-Hong-Kong-1974-1975-1975 — Page 231

.

Friday, February 15, 1974

EEC TO CONTINUE TARIFF PREFERENCES FOR ANOTHER YEAR

:

The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark have aligned their respective Generalised Systems of Preferences with that of the original Eropean Economic Community.

Announcing this today, the Director of Commerce and Industry,

Mr. David Jordan, said that with effect from January 1, 1974, the nine

member countries of the enlarged European Economic Community would continue

their Generalised Systems of Preferences for a period of one year.

The Commerce and Industry Department win continue to accept

applications for Certificates of Origin, Form A, which are required

for exports of products under claim to preferential duties or entry into

the countries of the enlarged European Economic Community.

Under the E.E.C. Scheme, dirty free entry are available for a

wide range of manufactured and semi-manufactured products (except textiles

and footwear) to pre-determined quotą levels.

When the quota level of each category has been filled, subsequent

imports of the goods concerned will attract normal rates of duty. Certain

agricultural products are also allowed entry into the countries of the

E.E.C. at reduced rates of duty.

The origin rules of the present scheme remain basically the

same as that of the original scheme. Full details of the method of

applying for the Certificate of Origin, Form A, are included in a circular

to the trade which the department is issuing today.

A

*

15