Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what steps His Majesty's Government are taking, in view of the Brazilian Presidential Decree published on 12th January, 1916, renewing the preferential Customs treatment accorded by the Brazilian Government to certain articles of United States origin, in order to secure for British goods the same rates of duty as are conceded to United States goods; and (2) what is the character and extent of the differentiation against British as compared with United States goods in the Brazilian Customs Tariff as the result of the new Proclamation of the Brazilian President?
§ Sir E. GREYI will answer both of my hon. Friend's questions together. As regards the first, His Majesty's Government do not at present propose to adopt any change of attitude 255W towards the policy of the Brazilian Government. The reply to the second is as follows: By Brazilian Presidential Decree of the 12th January, 1916, it is provided that, in virtue of the Budget Law for 1916, the articles specified below, the produce of the United States of America, shall enjoy, during the current year, on importation into Brazil, a reduction of the Customs import duties as shown below:
A reduction of— Wheat flour 30 per cent. Condensed milk 20 per cent. Rubber manufactures coming under No. 1033 of the Brazilian Customs Tariff 20 per cent. Clocks and watches 20 per cent. Colours and Inks coming under No. 173 of the Brazilian Customs Tariff (except writing inks) 20 per cent. Varnishes 20 per cent. Typewriters 20 per cent. Refrigerators 20 per cent. Pianos 20 per cent. Weighing Machines 20 per cent. Windmills 20 per cent. Cement 20 per cent. Corsets 20 per cent. Dried Fruits 20 per cent. School Furniture 20 per cent. Writing Desks 20 per cent. This list of goods is the same as that in respect of which the United States has enjoyed the preference for some years past, i.e., there is no addition this year to the list of privileged goods.