HC Deb 14 July 1949 vol 467 cc637-8
10. Mr. A. Edward Davies

asked the President of the Board of Trade how far it is estimated that American tariffs are a barrier to the importation of manufactured goods and commodities from Britain and the rest of the sterling area; and what recent steps have been taken to deal with the problem.

Mr. H. Wilson

Although substantial reductions in the United States tariffs were negotiated at Geneva in 1947 by the United Kingdom and other countries and incorporated in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the level and the administration of the United States tariffs remain an obstacle to the development of sterling exports to the United States in many classes of goods. Information has recently been given on these lines to the special group representing the European Co-operation Administration and the United States Department of Commerce which has been visiting Europe to discuss with various O.E.E.C. countries how exports to the United States can best be increased.

Mr. Edward Davies

Can the Minister tell us whether there is any prospect of reducing some of the tariffs on goods which we could provide, and whether any arrangements are being made to co-ordinate production in this country and America so that we are not competing to no purpose?

Mr. Wilson

I think it would be impossible to estimate what those prospects are.