§ Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs has been broken by the subsidies recently given to United States exports of citrus and other fresh, dried and canned fruit; and what action he is taking to protect Empire citrus exports from unfair competition.
Mr. H. WilsonHis Majesty's Government are aware that the United States of America are making benefit payments in respect of exports of oranges, canned orange juice, and dried prunes and raisins, since the United States Government have, in accordance with their obligations under Article XVI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, notified the contracting parties of the extent and nature of these payments. If any contracting parties (including Commonwealth countries) feel that their interests are seriously prejudiced by the action of the United States, they may ask for discussion on the possibility of limiting these subsidies. I am not aware that they have injured colonial interests; they are in general, limited to countries participating in the European Recovery Programme, and these countries are at present restricting their imports from the dollar area for balance of payments reasons.