Mr. Cambell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will take immediate steps to end the dumping on the British market of footwear from Poland where the wholesale price on the United Kingdom market of such products is less than the cost of leather, textile and synthetic component materials to United Kingdom footwear producers.
§ Mr. Peter ReesResponsibility for taking antidumping action rests with the European Commission. My 241W Department supported the British Footwear Manufacturers Federation in lodging a complaint with the Commission last year about the alleged dumping of Polish men's leather footwear but a voluntary restraint arrangement (VRA) on all leather foorwear exported from Poland to the United Kingdom was subsequently negotiated by the Commission with the Polish authorities. Since the VRA effectively limited any injury caused by the Polish imports, the Commission did not proceed with a formal anti-dumping investigation. Available statistics suggest that Poland has honoured the VRA.