§ Mr. JENKINSasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware of the recent increase in the import duty on sulphate of copper imported into Portugal, for the spraying of vines, from, approximately, 9s. per ton to approximately £4 10s. per ton, which is equivalent to nearly 20 per cent. ad valorem; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter;
(2) whether he is aware that the duty on importation of sulphate of copper into Portugal specially affects the trade of this country, in view of the fact that the value of the sulphate of copper exported from this country to Portugal during the year 1928 was about six times the value exported into that country by all other countries together; and will he make representations to the Portuguese Government on the matter;
(3) whether he is aware of the fact that, if the Portuguese tariff on sulphate of copper is maintained, the effect will be, in practice, to prohibit the importation of the commodity into Portugal and thereby will mean a considerable increase of unemployment in this country; and what steps does he propose to take in the matter?
§ Mr. GILLETTMy attention has already been called to the increase of the duty levied on copper sulphate imported into Portugal, and, acting on telegraphic instructions sent to him at the instance of my Department, His Majesty's Ambassador at Lisbon has already made representations on the matter to the Portuguese Government.
§ Mr. JENKINSasked the President of the Board of Trade what immediate steps, if any, it is proposed to be taken by representation or otherwise to the Portuguese Government to remit the increase in tariff on sulphate of copper, having regard especially to the peculiar advantages that country has in the British market, inasmuch as the annual value of port wine imported from Portugal into this country is nearly 30 times as much 620W as the value of sulphate of copper exported from this country to Portugal and, furthermore, it is a custom of the trade in this country to apply the word "port" exclusively to wine grown in the Douro district of Portugal, thereby granting a virtual monopoly to that particular district, and that this custom enables the Portuguese wine exporters to avail themselves of the protection of the Merchandise Marks Act to the disadvantage of Empire wine growers?
§ Mr. GILLETTAs I have informed my hon. Friend to-day, my attention has already been called to the increase of the duty levied on copper sulphate imported into Portugal, and acting on telegraphic instructions sent to him at the instance of my Department His Majesty's Ambassador at Lisbon has made representations on the matter to the Portuguese Government.