§ 23. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether there are any, and, if so, what, treaties or agreements with foreign Powers which would prevent this country from pro hibiting the importation of commodities or manufactures which are dumped on The British market at prices lower than The cost of production in this country,
§ of these Duties has increased the load on the Exchequer and on the Unemployment Fund; and will he now consider their reinstatement?
§ Following is the answer:
§ As regards the first three quarters of 1930, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10th February, 1931, to the hon. and gallant Member for the Isle of Wight (Captain Macdonald). The corresponding figures for the fourth quarter of 1930 and the first quarter of 1931 are shown in the following statement. Figures in respect of the cutlery industry are not yet available for any period subsequent to the second quarter of 1930.
§ and in many cases considerably less than the prices at which they are sold in the country of origin; and, if so, will he give particulars of any such treaties or agreements?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMHis Majesty's Government are precluded by the Anglo-German Commercial Treaty of 1924 and the International Convention for the Abolition of Import and Export prohibitions and restrictions from imposing such a prohibition on the goods of Germany and of five other countries, namely, the United States of America, Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands and Norway. Provisions similar to those in the International Convention are also contained in the Anglo-Persian Tariff Autonomy Treaty which, though not yet ratified, is provisionally in force. So long as any of these instruments remain in operation no such prohibition could, of course, be applied to any other 1041 countries entitled by treaty to most-favoured-nation treatment in this respect.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIn view of the likelihood of a change to a Government pledged to prohibit dumping, could not the right hon. Gentleman give provisional notice as to the determination of this treaty?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI could not promise to give any notice of that kind, because I am not prepared to contemplate so dangerous a likelihood.
§ Sir PHILIP CUNLIFFE-LISTERIs is not the case that there is nothing in any of the instruments to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred, which prevents him imposing any duty if he likes, to-day?
§ Mr. GRAHAMIf the right hon. Gentleman refers to a tariff at large, then of course that is not inconsistent with treaty obligations, but I make no comment on the merits of such a proposal.
§ Mr. THORNEHas the right hon. Gentleman been able to give a scientific definition of what is meant by "dumping"?
§ Following is the statement:
| STATEMENT showing the Quantities and Declared "Values of Manufactured Fuel imported into the United Kingdom during each of the years 1929 and 1930, distinguishing the countries whence consigned. | |||||
| Countries whence Consigned. | 1929. | 1930. | |||
| Quantity. | Declared Value. | Quantity. | Declared Value. | ||
| Tons. | £ | Tons. | £ | ||
| Germany | … | 179 | 1,589 | 91 | 1,139 |
| Netherlands | … | 64 | 642 | 36 | 728 |
| Belgium | … | 14 | 17 | 12 | 15 |
| France | … | 163 | 814 | 45 | 435 |
| Switzerland | … | 99 | 12,921 | 42 | 6,320 |
| Italy | … | 16 | 32 | — | — |
| United States of America | … | — | 13 | — | 4 |
| Irish Free State | … | 38 | 91 | 19 | 62 |
| Total | … | 573 | 16,119 | 245 | 8,703 |
§ NOTE. —The figures for 1930 are provisional.