§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the unemployment in certain industries, whether he will make a statement as to the anticipated effect on British trade of the so-called luxury taxes which are about to become law in Japan?
§ Mr. LUNNI understand that goods representing roughly 8 per cent. of the imports into Japan from the United Kingdom in 1921 (the latest year for which figures are available) will be subject to the new luxury duty of 100 per cent.,ad valorem, under the new tariff measure which has already passed the Japanese Legislature. It is not possible to predict what decline in our trade. with Japan may result, but representations have been received from certain branches of British trade; and His Majesty's Government, whilst they do not hope for any modification of the new duties, have secured the assent of the Japanese Government to the former tariff rates being applied to goods which were shipped to Japan before the 6th July, the date of presentation of the Tariff Bill to the Diet. The British Government are also endeavouring to obtain some further mitigation of the adverse effect resulting from the introduction of the new rates at short notice.