§ 20. Mr. MANDERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any negotiations have recently taken place with regard to tariff reductions by other countries; and whether any offers or proposals of such a kind have been received?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThere have been no recent negotiations or proposals for negotiation with foreign countries except on the ordinary basis of mutual most-favoured nation treatment. I may explain, however, that two recent agreements of this description, namely, those concluded with Chile and Salvador, did in fact result in United Kingdom goods securing reductions of duty which had previously been accorded to other countries but withheld from us.
§ Mr. MANDERDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to continue the negotiations instituted by the late Government with the object of reducing foreign tariffs?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWhenever opportunity offers we shall certainly take advantage of it.