§ 20. Mr. Warbeyasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to protect the British bicycle industry against the effects of the proposed doubling of the United States tariff on imported cycles of the curved tubular frame type.
§ Mr. ErrollI am watching this very closely. The British Embassy in Washington have made strong representations at all stages of the Bill now 1717 before Congress, and we shall lose no opportunity of pressing our views on the United States Government.
§ Mr. WarbeyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the imposition of this extra tariff would lead to the loss of valuable exports and would produce serious unemployment in the bicycle industry in Nottingham and Birmingham? Wild he strengthen his representations by pointing out that if this kind of unilateral action is taken by the Americans, we shall be compelled to impose tariffs upon American manufactured goods coming into this country to compete with those goods which we can manufacture perfectly well ourselves?
§ Mr. ErrollAt present, this is a Bill going through Congress. It has not yet been made law, but if it does become law, the President of the United States will have the power to veto it. We shall certainly make strong representations should the Bill become law. If the President fails to veto the Bill, we will discuss urgently the question of adequate tariff compensation.