HC Deb 22 March 1911 vol 23 cc405-6
Mr. CROFT

asked whether an additional duty has recently been imposed in the United States on British spirits; if so, what is the amount of such duty and the reason alleged for imposing it; and what steps, if any, are being taken to induce the United States Government to admit spirits from the United Kingdom at the same duties as spirits from other countries?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

Under the tariff laws of the United States of America goods upon which an export bounty is paid are liable on importation into the United States to an additional duty equivalent to the bounty. A question has recently been raised by the Government of the United States as to whether certain allowances now paid on the exportation of British spirits are of such a nature as to render the spirits liable to this additional duty. The view of His Majesty's Government is that the allowances are not of such a nature, and His Majesty's Ambassador has been instructed to make representations in this sense to the Government of the United States.