§ 13. Mr. LIDDALLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the large increase in the imports in this year of rubber footwear from Empire countries; and whether he contemplates taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Agreements concluded at Ottawa provided that no duty should be imposed on rubber boots and shoes from the Dominions concerned in those Agreements, and there is no power under existing legislation to impose either a quantitative restriction or an import duty on imports of rubber footwear from other Empire countries.
§ Mr. LIDDALLIs my right hon. Friend not aware that a large quantity of these particular goods is being exported to Empire countries from Japan?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am very conscious of the competition from Japan, not only in these but in other things as well.