§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that during the year 1934 the total sales of Selvyt polishing cloths, manufactured by a Manchester firm, exported to the United States of America, were invoiced at £534, while the duties imposed by the American Government on those values amounted to 2473; and whether he will make representations to the American authorities to obviate this?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEThe figures in the question agree with those which have been sent to me by the manufacturers concerned. The cloths in question are dutiable on importation to the United States of America as articles manufactured from plain backed velveteen at the rate of 62½ per cent. ad valorem plus 10 cents for every pound of long staple cotton and a. tax varying from 6 cents to 10 cents per dozen imposed under the Agricultural Adjustment Act. The duty is levied, not on the invoice value of the goods buton the value of the goods as assessed by the United States appraiser after investigation of the books of the exporting firm. It is open to the manufacturers or their agents to appeal to the United States Customs Court for reappraisement. All possible steps have been taken to assist the manufacturers of these cloths, both by the Board of Trade and His Majesty's representatives in the United States of America, and my right hon. Friend does not consider that in present circumstances representations on this point would lead to any useful result.