§ Mr. Gregoryasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken since the United States Government imposed quotas on certain imported goods under section 22 of the Agricultural Act 1933 in January.
§ Mrs. FennerOn hearing of this action, my Department raised it with the European Commission, within whose competence such matters lie, and the Commission transmitted our concern to the United States authorities. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, also raised the issue, when he visited Washington DC on 7–9 May, with the United States trade representative.
On 17 May, the United States Government decided, with effect from 19 May, to exclude from the restrictions imports of certain goods containing sugar, pending an investigation by the US International Trade Commission.
These goods are:
—articles in retail packages, if not dry mixtures;—articles in retail packages, if dry mixtures containing 10 per cent. or less sugar by dry weight;—articles in bulk, whether or not dry mixtures, containing 10 per cent. or less sugar by dry weight;—certain cake decorations (ie those to be used in the same condition as imported without any further processing other than the direct application to individual pastries or confections) containing 65 per cent. or less sugar by dry weight;—crushed coconut meat or juice preparations with added sugar, containing 65 per cent. or less sugar by dry weight;—minced sea food preparations containing 20 per cent. or less sugar by dry weight.