§ Mr. REMNANTasked what was the present duty in the United States on British potatoes; will this duty continue in the event of the free admission of Canadian potatoes under the proposed trade reciprocity agreement; and what was the value of this British export trade to the United States in 1909?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe present duty leviable on British potatoes imported into the United States of America is 25 cents per bushel of 60 lbs., equivalent to 1s. 11d. per cwt. As regards the continuation of this duty I must refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question asked by the hon. Member for the Ludlow division of Shropshire on the 9th instant. The export of British potatoes to the United States in 1909 was entirely exceptional, over 3 million cwt. having been exported to that country of a declared value of £474,600. In 1910, on the other hand, only 489 cwts. were exported of a declared value of £106.
§ Mr. REMNANTasked if the tariff rates conceded by the United States under the Canadian reciprocity agreement will be extended to apply to similar products from the United Kingdom, Newfoundland, and other parts of the British Empire?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Ludlow Division of Shropshire on this subject on the 9th instant.
§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to Mr. Zourassa's statement that His Majesty's Government have encouraged the Canadian Government to make the recent reciprocity agreement with the United States; and whether any announcement on the subject can be made?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe statement is entirely without any foundation in fact.
§ Mr. CROFTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether Mr. James Bryce was actively engaged in helping to bring about the agreement?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir.
§ Mr. REMNANTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the proposed trade arrangement between Canada and the United States has been submitted to the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade for investigation and report; whether steps are being taken to obtain the views of this committee and of chambers of commerce the trade of whose districts may be affected by it; and whether, in view of the short time available, it is expected that these reports will be received in time to make effective representations?
Mr. BUXTONParticulars of the proposed Reciprocity Agreement have been published by the Commercial Intelligence Branch in the Board of Trade Journal, and a comparative statement, showing the existing and proposed rates of duty is being presented to Parliament, and will, I hope, be published to-morrow. These steps seem sufficient to bring the matter to the knowledge of the Commercial community.