§ Mr. LANSBURY(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether negotiations have been taking place with His Majesty's Government in Canada for a modification of the trade agreement concluded at Ottawa last year and, if so, with what result?
Mr. J. H. THOMASYes, Sir. At the request of His Majesty's Government in Canada, consultations as provided for in Article 23 of the United Kingdom-Canada Trade Agreement have taken place in regard to the variation of certain of the provisions of the trade agreement relating to the Customs tariff treatment of United Kingdom goods. It has now been agreed between the two Governments that Schedule E of the trade agreement shall be varied and added to in certain respects and, with the permission of the House, I will circulate particulars of these changes in the OFFICIAL REPORT. His Majesty's Government in Canada, having regard to the provisions of Article 17 of the trade agreement, have agreed that the fixed value of the pound sterling for exchange dumping duty purposes shall be 4.25 dollars instead of 4.40 dollars until further notice.
§ Mr. MANDERHas this anything to do with negotiations between the Canadian and American Governments?
Mr. THOMASThis has to do with negotiations between the British and the Canadian Governments, and, as I have pointed out, the exchange rate is of considerable advantage to British producers.
§ Mr. MAXTONWill this be further modified by the talks which the Prime Minister is to have when he goes to Washington; or can British traders goes on the assumption that this has now been fixed for a considerable period of time?
Mr. THOMASThis is considered in relation to the specific request of the Canadian Government, and an adequate quid pro quo has been provided for, and that is the best answer as to the agree- 2575 ment. So far as the American consultations are concerned, they have no bearing whatever.
§ Mr. ANEURIN BEVANIn view of the changes which have been made in the New Zealand rate of exchange, is it intended to open up similar negotiations in that case?
Mr. THOMASIf the hon. Member reads the answer which I have just given, he will see that I am dealing with Canada and this country. It has nothing to do with New Zealand.
| UNITED KINGDOM—CANADA TRADE AGREEMENT. | ||||
| (a) Modifications of present items in Schedule E. | ||||
| Tariff Number | Article. | New Import Duties. | ||
| British Preferential Tariff. | Intermediate Tariff. | General Tariff. | ||
| 79c | Seedling stock for grafting, viz.:—Plum, pear, peach and other fruit trees. | Free | Free | Free |
| 157a | Amyl alcohol or refined fusel oil, when imported by the Department of National Revenue or by a person licensed by the Minister, to be denatured for use in the manufacture of metal varnishes or lacquers, to be entered at ports prescribed by regulations of the Minister, subject to the Excise Act and to the Regulations of the Department of National Revenue. | Free | Free | Free |
| 203a | Chemical compounds composed of two or more acids or salts soluble in water, adapted for dyeing or tanning. | Free | 10% ad val. | 10% ad val. |
| 203b | Aniline and coal tar dyes, soluble in water, in bulk or packages of not less than one pound weight: | Free | 10% ad val. | 10% ad val. |
| Provided that those articles falling under items 203a and 203b in respect of which licences are for the time being granted for importation into the U.K. for general dyeing purposes, if such dyestuffs or their equivalents are not made within the Empire. | Free | Free | Free | |
| 206a | Bacteriological products, or serum for subcutaneous injection. | Free | Free | Free |
| 208u | Xanthates for use in the process of concentrating ores, metals or minerals. | Free | Free | Free |
| ad 210e | Nitrate of soda or cubic nitre when imported for use in the curing or pickling of meats. | Free | Free | Free |
| 278d | Olive oil for manufacturing soap or tobacco or for canning fish. | Free | Free | Free |
| 353a | Aluminium scrap | Free | Free | Free |
| Provided that nothing shall be deemed to be aluminium scrap except waste or refuse aluminium, fit only to be re-melted. |
§ Mr. BEVANI am asking the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the successful outcome of the negotiations with Canada and the changes made in the exchange rate by New Zealand, to the disadvantage of this country, it is his intention to open up similar negotiations with New Zealand?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs Mr. Bennett going to Washington?
§ Following are the particulars:
2577| Tariff Number. | Article. | New Import Duties. | ||
| British Preferential Tariff. | Intermediate Tariff. | General Tariff. | ||
| 385a | Sheets, plates, hoop, band or strip of rust, acid or heat resisting steels, hot or cold rolled, polished or not, valued at not less than 5 cts. per pound. | Free | 20% ad val. | 20% ad val. |
| 438g | Motor cycles or sidecars therefor, and complete parts thereof. | Free | 20% | 30% |
| 445c (ii) | Electric telephone apparatus and complete parts thereof. | 10% ad val. | 25% ad val. | 30% ad val. |
| 523d | Woven fabric, wholly of cotton, imported for use as billiard cloth. | Free | 27½% ad val. +3½ cts. per lb. | 32½% ad val. +4 cts. per lb. |
| 525 | Woven fabric, wholly of cotton, specially treated and glazed, when imported by rubber manufacturers for use in their own factories, exclusively as a detachable protective covering for uncured rubber sheeting. | Free | 30% ad val. | 35% ad val. |
| (b) Items added to Schedule E. | ||||
| 209d | Potash, chlorate of, not further prepared than ground. | Free | Free | Free |
| On and after July 31st, 1933 | Free | 15% | 20% | |
| Ex 219 | Solutions of Hydrogen peroxide of strengths of 30 per cent, and over. | Free | 22½% ad val. | 25% ad val. |
| Ex 265a | Cod liver oil | Free | 20% ad val. | 22½% ad val. |
| 316 | Electric light and are carbons, pointed or not, and contact carbons n.o.p. | 22½% ad val. | 32½% ad val. +20 cts, per lb. | 35% ad val. +20 cts. per lb. |
| 366b | Parts of watch movements, finished or unfinished. | Free | 15% ad val. | 15% ad val. |
| Provided that when imported under the Intermediate or General Tariffs, the duty on plates designed to hold in place four or more wheels or other moving parts shall be not less than per plate. | 10 cts. | 15 cts. | ||
| 428d | Magnetos and complete parts thereof, when imported by manufacturers of internal combustion engines, for use exclusively in the manufacture of such internal combustion engines, in their own factories. | Free | 10% ad val. | 15% ad val. |
| 438f | Motor omnibuses for conveying passengers only, having seating capacity for not less than ten persons: chassis for the same. | Free | 30% ad val. | 40% ad val. |
| Replacement and repair parts for motor vehicles enumerated in Tariff items 438a, 438b, 438c and 438f. | Free | — | — | |
| 438h | Annular ball bearings and parts thereof, when imported for use in the manufacture of goods enumerated in Tariff items 438a, 438 b, 438c, 438e and 438f, for use only as original equipment in the manufacture of motor vehicles enumerated in Tariff items 438a, 438b, 438c and 438f under regulations prescribed by the Minister. | Free | Free | Free |
| 440n | Complete parts for repair of engines enumerated in Tariff item 440m. | Free | 12½% ad val. | 15% ad val. |
| 471a | Pressed steel belt pulleys, for power transmission. | Free | 25% ad val. | 27½% ad val. |
| 568 | Knitted garments, knitted underwear and knitted goods n.o.p. | 25% ad val. | 35% ad val. +25 cts. per lb. | 45% ad val. +30 cts. per lb. |