HC Deb 13 November 1952 vol 507 cc1093-4
7. Mr. Hollis

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps Her Majesty's Government are proposing to take to guard British interests, in view of the action of the United States Congress which by its restriction on dairy imports under Section 104 of the United States Defence Production Act has infringed Article 11 and Article 23 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

Her Majesty's Government have strongly supported the representations made to the United States by the countries primarily affected and by the Contracting Parties to the G.A.T.T. that this breach of the General Agreement should be brought to an end, as has consistently been urged on the United States Congress by the Administration.

United Kingdom export interests are not now directly affected, since, as a result of these representations, the Congress has this year approved certain relaxations under which our Stilton cheese exports were exempted from restriction with effect from 1st October.

Mr. Hollis

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether it is not a fact that the Commonwealth at large is greatly affected by this even as it is at present, and whether this is not a matter to be brought before the forthcoming conference to see if there can be a joint Commonwealth policy on it?

Mr. Thorneycroft

We shall do everything we can, both alone and together with the Commonwealth, to get this particular restriction removed.

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