§ 40. Mr. Braineasked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take by way of introducing preferences or quotas to protect the legitimate interests of Commonwealth producers of tung oil in the British market in the face of subsidised United States exports of this commodity.
§ Mr. J. RodgersIt is open to any Commonwealth producers of tung oil who consider that their exports to the United Kingdom market are being damaged by subsidised exports from another country to apply to the Board of Trade for a countervailing duty under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act. No such application has been received.
§ Mr. BraineIs my hon. Friend aware that this is one more case of American dumping of subsidised exports without prior consultation with her allies? Is he further aware that America first restricted imports of Nyasaland tung oil and then, having built up a surplus, offloaded it on to the world market at a price below the cost of production? Is not this a matter upon which the United Kingdom should have views of its own?
§ Mr. RodgersWe have no evidence that the United States has sold tung oil for export recently. It appears likely 214 that the American Commodity Credit Corporation may shortly begin disposing of a large quantity of tung oil, and this may affect the pattern of supplies to the United Kingdom market, and may involve a subsidy.