HC Deb 22 May 1890 vol 344 c1577
MR. WOODALL (Hanley)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the fiscal changes which have been arranged for in the Convention with the Kingdom of Greece will come into operation; and whether the reductions in the tariff on imported articles, conceded by the Greek Government, as explained in the Budget speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will be limited to British productions, or whether the like advantages will be enjoyed by any other countries under the "most favoured nation" conditions?

*SIR J. FERGUSSON

The British duty on currants was reduced on May I. I believe that the reciprocal reductions in the Greek tariff came into force a day or two later. Those reductions will apply also to the importations from other countries which have a right under Treaty to the privileges of the most favoured nation, and which do not enjoy similar terms by separate Conventions. But the articles in the Greek tariff selected for reduction were those which are imported in the largest measure from this country, and upon which, according to those best informed, the greatest benefit would be conferred on British trade.