HC Deb 24 May 1932 vol 266 cc193-4W
Mr. L. SMITH

asked the President of the Board of Trade which countries at the present time are discriminating against any class of goods, other than coal, which could be imported from Great Britain; and whether it is intended to take any action with regard to such discrimination under Section 12 of the Import Duties Act?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The only two cases in which His Majesty's Government have had to protest recently against discrimination of the kind indicated in the question are the introduction of the Surtax of 15 per cent. ad valorem in France and the operation of a duty-quota system in Switzerland. In the former case the matter is still under discussion, and in the latter case conversations are proceeding with the Swiss Government. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise at present.