§ 47. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to limit the importation of excessive numbers of cheap Italian refrigerators and to encourage British manufacturers to reduce the prices of refrigerators made in this country.
§ Mr. JayThe Board of Trade is in touch with the British refrigerator industry concerning the preparation of an application for action under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957. I think that market conditions will, of themselves, ensure that prices are kept to the minimum.
§ Mrs. ShortWill my right hon. Friend pursue this matter very energetically in connection with the Anti-Dumping Regulations in the Kennedy Round? Would he care to say what would have happened in similar circumstances had we been in the Common Market? In that event, could not Italian refrigerators and other manufactured goods come in and compete unfairly and interfere with British manufacturers?
§ Mr. JayIf we join the E.E.C. there would be a nil tariff on refrigerators from Italy, but the Anti-Dumping Regulations would remain exactly the same.