§ MR. HOLT (Northumberland, Hexham)To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if lumber shipped from the United States to France is liable to an extra duty in France if trans-shipped in Hong Kong or any other British Colony; and if so, whether, in view of the present friendly relations between this country and France, the Government will make representations to the French. Government, with a view to procuring the removal of a tax which is injurious to the transit trade of our Colonies.
(Answered by Secretary Sir Edward. Grey.) Lumber shipped from the United States to France is dutiable at the rates provided in the French minimum tariff if imported either directly or ria a country which itself enjoys the minimum tariff. In other cases it is subject to the full general tariff rates. Neither Hong Kong nor any other British Colony is entitled to the application of the French minimum tariff as a whole. His Majesty's Government could not properly suggest to the French Government that they should accord to United States products privileges in excess of those actually accorded in virtue of existing conventions between the United States and France.