§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the President of the Board of Trade the names of those foreign countries to which, within the last year, the British Government have made any representations in respect of tariff increases adverse to our trade, together with the nature of the representations and the results in each case?
§ Mr. W. R. SMITHDuring the last year the only foreign countries to make extensive tariff revisions in an upward direction have been Egypt and the United States of America. In the case of Egypt informal representations were made with regard to the proposed new duties on certain kinds of goods, and our views were, to some extent, met in the tariff which was actually enforced in446W February last. In the case of the United States, the views of British exporters were brought informally to the notice of the United States Government as has been explained to the House on several occasions. Representations, either formal or informal, have also been addressed to various other Governments with regard to increases or proposed increases of duty on specific articles. Where so many factors are involved, it is impossible to say to what extent modifications of new duties are due to representations made by His Majesty's Government, and the publication of the complete list of cases, such as is suggested in the question, would, therefore, in the absence of a wide knowledge of the circumstances of each case, be of little value, while its compilation would involve an inordinate amount of labour.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any of the Colonies refrain from imposing tariffs on imports; and whether any give preferential treatment to imports from Great Britain or other parts of the British Empire?
§ Dr. SHIELSNo import duties on articles other than alcoholic liquor and tobacco are charged in Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements, or on articles other than alcoholic liquor, tobacco and motor spirits in Gibraltar. Import duties on goods of Empire origin are charged at a preferential rate in the folowing Colonies:
Bahamas. Gibraltar. Barbados. Jamaica. Bermuda. Leeward Islands. British Guiana. Mauritius. British Honduras. Trinidad and Tobago. Cyprus. Fiji. Windward Islands.