HC Deb 21 July 1910 vol 19 cc1433-5
Mr. HAMILTON BENN

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether the duties charged in Brazil on paints, pianos, watches, clocks, rubber manufactures, typewriters, cement, and school and office furniture are higher if imported from the United Kingdom than from the United States; and, if so, whether any representa- tions will be made to the Brazilian. Government to accord most-favoured-nation treatment to British goods; and (2) whether his attention has been drawn to the statement of the United States Vice-Consul-General at Rio de Janeiro, in a recent report to his Government, that the recent grant of a 20 per cent. preferential tariff on United States cement would have the effect of diverting the supply of cement from European to American sources; and whether; seeing that a large export of cement from the United Kingdom to Brazil exists, any steps will be taken to obtain from Brazil the same concessions as have been accorded to the United States?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

A preference amounting to 20 per cent. of the import duties has been accorded in Brazil to certain United States products and manufactures since April, 1904. The list of articles accorded preferential treatment has been extended from time to time and now embraces all those mentioned in the questions as well as wheat, flour, condensed milk, varnishes, weights and measures, refrigerators, windmills and corsets. My attention has been called to the report of the United States Vice-Consul, to which reference is made. There is no commercial treaty between Brazil and the United Kingdom, but representations have been addressed to the Brazilian Government, both by this Government and its predecessor, with a view to securing most-favoured-nation treatment for British goods. Other European Governments—those of France, Germany and Belgium—have also made representations to the Brazilian Government, which, like those of this country, have remained without effect.

Mr. GIBSON BOWLES

Can the hon. Gentleman say what the reply of the Brazilian Government was to this question.

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I should not like to quote it from memory. If the hon. Member will give me notice I shall answer him.

Mr. HAMILTON BENN

Am I to understand from the answer that any country can kill one of our important industries by giving an important preference to a rival, and that we can make no effective protest?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I do not know about an effective protest, but we are exactly in the same position as the other important Governments of Germany, France, and Belgium.

Mr. BONAR LAW

How can the right hon. Gentleman say we are in the same position in view of the fact that we give to Brazil facilities enormously greater than are given by other European countries?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

The fact is as stated by the hon. Gentleman. This is a case of preference given to the United States of America to the detriment of all European countries.

Mr. BONAR LAW

Does the hon. Gentleman suggest that if it were possible for us to offer to retaliate we could not obtain from Brazil terms as favourable as the United States?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

Seeing that France, Germany, and Belgium all have powers of retaliating, I think the suggestion made by the hon. Member is somewhat contrary to the facts.