HC Deb 12 June 1956 vol 554 cc211-4
4. Mr. Hale

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the recent agreement on tariffs and trade will affect imports and exports of cotton yarn and cloth.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

We have not for our part undertaken any reductions in the United Kingdom tariff on cotton yarn and cloth. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT particulars of the concessions made by other countries affecting our exports.

Mr. Hale

Does that mean that the matter does not affect the vital problems

Tariff Item No. Description Currently applied rate Previous G.A.T.T. maximum rate New G.A.T.T. maximum rate
GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC
5504 Cotton yarn, not put up for retail sale:
A. Single (not multiple cabled or corded) whether or not double spun: 14 per cent. except for imports within the limits of the duty quota for pure cotton yarns for which the rate is 8 per cent. 14 per cent. 12 per cent.
ex 1 Unbleached, not less than 99 but under 173 metric count. 2 not less than 173 metric count. 6 per cent. 9 per cent. 6 per cent.
NORWAY
51 Cotton fabrics, including duck, undyed and un-bleached, minimum weight 180 grammes per quarter square metre. 10 per cent. 10 per cent. but not less than kr. 0.30 per kilo. 8½ per cent.
ex65b Bed ticking, entirely of one colour or bleached, except waxed cambric weighing more than 135 grammes per square metre. kr. 1.20 per kilo Not bound 16 per cent. But not less than kr. 1.20 per kilo.
ex 70 Bed ticking, unbleached except waxed cambric weighing more than 135 grammes per square metre. kr. 0.70 per kilo. 18 per cent. but not less than kr. 0. per kilo. 16 per cent. but not less than kr. 0. per kilo.
SWEDEN
ex 503 Gauze bandage cloth, bleached or dyed in one colour, weighing less than 75 grammes per square metre. 12 per cent. 18 per cent. 16 per cent.
Cotton fabrics uniformly woven weighing less than 100 grammes per square metre with more than 60 warp and weft threads per square centimetre.
ex 505 unbleached and undyed weighing less than 75 grammes per square metre. 12 per cent. 18 per cent. 16 per cent.
ex 506 bleached or dyed in one colour, weighing less than 75 grammes per square metre. 12 per cent. 18 per cent. 16 per cent.

which Lancashire has had for a long time, and that there will be no diminution in our imports of Indian cloth?

Mr. Thorneycroft

What it means is that we have not reduced our tariff on cotton cloth.

Mr. Bottomley

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether we are likely to have a debate on the recent negotiations at Geneva on G.A.T.T.?

Mr. Thorneycroft

No doubt that matter will be pursued through the usual channels.

Following are the particulars:

Tariff Item No. Description Currently applied rate Previous G.A.T.T. maximum rate New G.A.T.T. maximum rate
SWEDEN—cont.
511 Non-uniformly woven fabrics weighing less than 100 grammes per square metre:
unbleached and undyed 12 per cent. Not bound 16 per cent.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
901(a) Cotton yarn including warps, in any form, not bleached, dyed, coloured, combed, or plied:
of numbers not over 60 5 per cent. and, in addition thereto, for each number 0.25 per cent. 20 per cent. Currently applied rate 4½ per cent. and, in addition thereto, for each number 0.225 per cent.
of numbers above 60 20 per cent. Currently applied rate. 18 per cent.
901(b) Cotton yarn including warps, in any form, bleached, dyed, coloured, combed or plied:
of numbers not over 60 10 per cent. and, in addition thereto for each number 0.25 per cent. Currently applied 9 per cent. and, in addition thereto, for each number 0..225 per cent.
of numbers not over 60 25 per cent. Currently applied 22½ per cent.
NOTES
GERMANY:
Cotton yarns, for German customs purposes, consist only of yarns containing more than 50 per cent. cotton.
UNITED STATES:
The reductions in United States duties will be effected by two equal annual instalments.