§ 12. Mr. H. G. Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, as the trade treaty between the United States of America and Czechoslovakia has now ceased to operate, the duties on British gloves entering the United States of America have been raised from 50 per cent. to 60 per cent.; and whether, in view of the recent Anglo-American Trade Agreement he will represent to the Government of the United States of America that the lower rate of 1164 duty be restored in respect of British gloves?
§ Mr. StanleyI presume my hon. Friend refers to certain kinds of cotton gloves on which, under the most-favoured-nation provision, the United Kingdom enjoyed the lower rate of duty provided for in the trade agreement between the United States and Czecho-Slovakia. With the termination of that agreement this lower rate is no longer operative, and I understand that the United States Government have no power to restore it except by negotiating a new agreement covering the goods involved. In these circumstances, I fear that representations on the subject would serve no useful purpose.