HC Deb 20 October 1949 vol 468 c47W
20. Mr. Cooper

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in order to encourage the increase of our exports of books to the United States, in view of the drive to earn United States dollars, he is considering making representations to the United States Government for the removal of the discriminatory 7½ per cent. duty imposed on books exported from this country which is not imposed similarly on books from other countries.

Mr. H. Wilson

The United States import duty on books in the English language was reduced from 7½ per cent. to 5 per cent. during the tariff negotiations at Geneva in 1947. We shall seek to obtain a further reduction whenever a suitable opportunity occurs.