§ 15. Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of imposing on goods imported from countries with depreciated currency some tax based on the rate of exchange so as to place British goods on a level with foreign imported goods when placed on the market?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)I have been asked to reply. The course proposed by my hon. and gallant Friend is precluded by the provisions of most of our Commercial Treaties. Countries with which such Treaties are in force can claim that no higher duties shall be imposed on their produce and manufactures than on similar goods, the produce or manufacture of any other foreign country.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI did not know the hon. and gallant Gentleman represented a foreign country. I thought he was speaking as a Member of the House.
§ Sir A. HOLBROOKIs there not some arrangement of a similar character now working in Spain with great success?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo. The provision that has worked with great success in all our commercial treaties is the most-favoured-nation Clause, under which we are precluded from imposing differential duties against countries within its ambit.