HC Deb 14 June 1967 vol 748 cc527-8
1. Mr. Ronald Atkins

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce more effective measures, such as those operating in Canada, details of which have been sent to him, to prevent the dumping of textiles in the United Kingdom.

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Douglas Jay)

No, Sir. Certificates of the domestic value of imports are no, required under our valuation system and they would not reduce the need for the necessary investigation of anti-dumping applications.

Mr. Atkins

Is my right hon. Friend aware that efficient and knowledgeable British manufacturers with experience in exporting to Canada would be well satisfied with the protection which the measures in Canada give against dumping?

Mr. Jay

Yes, but I am sure that my hon. Friend knows that under the Kennedy Round negotiations the Canadians as well as ourselves have agreed to a new system of anti-dumping procedures which is much more akin to our present system. Therefore, I do not think we should wish at this stage to move towards the Canadian system.

Mr. Blackburn

Is my right hon. Friend aware that our present antidumping regulations are of no use at all to the textile industry because their application is to the whole industry, whereas the attack on the British textile industry has been on one section after another?

Mr. Jay

We are very ready to conduct, and have conducted, a lot of investigations in recent months into the possibilities of an anti-dumping Order on textiles, but we must have the proper evidence and supporting information to introduce one.