TRADE OFFER BY SOVIET

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27277, 18 February 1954, Page 11

TRADE OFFER BY SOVIET

Minister Reports

To Commons

(Rec. 7.45 p.m.) DONDON, Feb. 16. Nearly half the £400,000,003 worth Of goods which Russia had offered to buy from Britain would be free from “strategic’’ controls, Mr Derick I.eath-coat-Amory, Minister of State at the Board of Trade, told the House of Commons today. , He said this was a very rough estimate. The export of strategic goods to Communist countries is banned. Mr Heathcoat-Amory, who was replying to a question, said the of the Board of Trade (Mr Peter Thorneycroft) was greadly interested in the Russian . Mr Harold Wilson, a former Labour president of the lioard of Trade, suggested that the Ministers should have discussions with the British businessmen who had been in Moscow for the trade talks.

Mr Heathcoat-Amory replied: “We are very much looking forward to meeting these businessmen on their return and discussing their experience with them. It seems to have been a most useful visit.”

Mr J. B. Scott, leader of the mission to Russia, said today that £16,000,000 worth of orders had already been signed in Moscow, with a further £48,000,000 worth under negotiation. Mr Scott, who returned today, said that the Russians were mainly interested in shipping, especially 10,000-ton tankers.

They also wanted machine tools and electrical equipment.