HC Deb 15 May 1930 vol 238 cc2077-8W
Sir D. NEWTON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any of the countries represented at Geneva at the Tariff Truce Conference have since put forward any proposals for any increase of their tariffs; and, if so, of what nature?

Mr. W. GRAHAM

The following statement contains the desired information as to increases of tariff rates made or proposed since 24th March, 1930, by countries which were represented at the Preliminary Conference with a view to concerted economic action:

Manufactured products: Denmark has increased the duties on knitted garments (except hosiery and knitted underwear), electrical accumulators and a few other goods, but at the same time has reduced duties on certain other goods: Switzerland has increased the duties on certain motor-boats.

Agricultural produce and preparations thereof: Germany has increased her duties on an extensive range of agricultural products (the German Government have, however, pointed out that during the Conference they indicated their intention of so doing): Italy has increased her duty on tea, Rumania that on refined sugar, and Yugoslavia those on tea and coffee: Switzerland has increased the "monopoly" duties on imported spirits as a preliminary to contemplated temperance legislation.

Other primary products: Germany has increased duties on certain mineral oils.

The following cases appear to fall under special provisions of the Geneva Commercial Convention, as indicated:

Switzerland has restored the normal duty on pigs, which was temporarily reduced last December (Cf. Protocol ad Article 2, (A) of the Commercial Convention).

Greece has raised a number of duties (on certain leather goods, iron and steel ware, textiles, etc.) as a result of the revision, made before the signature of the Geneva Commercial Convention, of the Franco-Greek Commercial Convention of 1929 (Cf. Protocol ad Article 2, (A) of the Geneva Convention).

In addition the following changes are reported to be in contemplation:

Austria: on various agricultural and industrial products: some of these could only be made effective by the revision (already in contemplation) of existing treaties, e.g. those with *Hungary and *Yugoslavia (these revisions may fall under Article 8 (d) of the Convention and the Protocol thereto).

The enforcement of the revised Austro-German Commercial Treaty (already signed) will involve both reductions and increases of duty on certain goods imported into Austria and Germany respectively (these may also fall under Article 8 (d) of the Convention and Protocol thereto).

*Czechoslovakia: proposal to impose supplementary duties on a sliding scale on imported cereals and flour, in certain circumstances.

Greece: proposal to increase import duties on a few classes of goods which are seriously competing with, and affecting the development of, national industries.

(France has substituted a schedule of specific duties on motor cars and parts thereof for the previous ad valorem duties, but it does not appear whether any actual increase of duty has resulted.)

* These countries did not sign the Commercial Convention concluded at Geneva on 24th March, 1930.