§ 39. Mr. Nabarroasked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations he had with the Eireann Government in regard to revision of import duties into Eire for British manufactured carpets; what is the nature of the revision in tariffs; how far this is in accord with the terms of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; what reciprocal advantages Britain will now obtain, or otherwise, from the Eireann Government; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftFrom the 15th July, the Government of the Irish Republic restored the duty on textile floor coverings from 20 per cent. ad valorem to its pre-war level of 40 per cent., which I should add, still gives British exporters a preference of 20 per cent. The Anglo-Irish Trade Agreements of 1938 and 1948 leave the Irish Republic perfectly free to restore this rate without having to consult us. But it is provided in the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement of 1938 that in such a ease the appropriate means of seeking a revision of the duty is for United Kingdom exporters to ask for, and present a case at, a tariff review in the Irish Republic. The Irish Republic is not a Contracting Party to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.