HC Deb 25 July 1904 vol 138 cc1046-7
MR. WHITE RIDLEY (Stalybridge)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now state whether the representations made to the Portuguese Government as to the prejudicial effect of their new tariff on the export of our mercerised goods has met with any result; and whether there is any treaty with Portugal in which the principles of the most-favoured-nation clause find a place.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, Central

The rate of duty on mercerised cotton goods proposed in the draft tariff now before the Portuguese Cortes is somewhat lower than that contained in the draft Portuguese tariff which was the subject of the representations referred to in my previous reply to my hon. friend. The duty as now proposed, however (like many other duties in the draft tariff), is very largely in excess of that at present charged, and the matter is not being lost sight of. There is no treaty between this country and Portugal containing a most-favoured-nation clause.