Mr. MACOUISTENasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the communication made to him to the effect that a foreign country is assisting by varied methods its manufacturers of steel works plant to sell to British steel makers at uneconomic prices and so destroy the business of manufacturers of steel works plant in this country; and whether, in view of the danger to the country of being without adequate manufacturing facilities for steel works plant, he will take all possible steps to protect them from a competition directed to depriving Britain of a necessary part of her means of defence?
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Product. International Organisation. Participating Countries. Semi-manufactured Products … International Steel Cartel Joists and Sections … France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany. For plates and medium sheets also Austria and Czechoslovakia. Merchant Bars … Thick Plates … Medium Sheets … Universal Flats … Hoops and Strips … International Hoop Iron Syndicate. France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany. Wire Rods … International Wire Rod Association. France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany. Drawn Wire … International Wire Export Company. France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Holland, Denmark, Hungary. Rails … International Railmakers' Association. United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Ship Plates … International Ship Plate Agreement. United Kingdom, France. Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany. Tubes … International Tube Cartel United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, France, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Japan. Tin Plates … International Tinplate Agreement. United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Germany, Italy, Norway.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANMy attention has been drawn to the communication referred to by my hon. and learned Friend. If the United Kingdom manufacturers of the machinery in question consider the existing rate of duty inadequate, it is open to them to make representations to the Import Duties Advisory Committee.