§ 20. Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the memorandum from the Federation of British Industries relating to the compulsory marking of foreign imported goods, and urging that the pro- 185 tection of British industry can best be achieved by tariffs and quotas; and if he will make a statement on the policy of His Majesty's Government in relation to submissions embodied in this statement?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe memorandum referred to by my hon. Friend was sent in response to a request from the Board of Trade for the federation's views on a proposal that the Merchandise Marks Act, 1826, should be amended in such a way as to require all imported goods to bear an indication of origin. The federation is opposed to the compulsory marking of all imported goods. They say that there is clearly a considerable difference of opinion on the subject, and they express the view that any attempt
| The following table shows the total number and declared value of motor oars and chassis imported into and exported from the United Kingdom in the trade with the United States during the year 1933. | ||||
| Description. | Total imports consigned from the United States. | Domestic exports consigned to the United States. | ||
| Quantity. | Declared Value. | Quantity. | Declared Value. | |
| Motor cars, etc: | Number. | £ | Number. | £ |
| Private cars (including cabs) | 1,373 | 202,406 | 26 | 8,029 |
| Commercial vehicles (including motor omnibuses, motor Are engines and motor ambulances, but not including tractors). | 17 | 1,666 | — | — |
| Chassis for motor cars, etc: | ||||
| With engines | 683 | 82,049 | 39 | 40,059 |
| Without engines | 60 | 3,300 | — | — |
§ 22. Mr. HALESasked the President of the Board of Trade if the recent reduction in duty on British motor vehicles imported into the United States has been made in consideration of similar concessions in duty on American motor vehicles or other commodities imported into Great Britain?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir. The duties hitherto imposed in the United States on motor vehicles and certain other articles have varied according to the duties levied by other countries on similar goods of United States origin. I understand that the United States Government now take the view that such forms of discrimination are inconsistent with the most-favoured-nation provisions of their Treaties and have accordingly decided to
§ to impose marking orders on industries would be widely resented. The memorandum, which I have only just received, is at present under consideration.