HC Deb 03 March 1955 vol 537 c304W
65. Mr. Osborne

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that United Kingdom exports to Canada in 1954 fell by 16 per cent., as compared with 1953, whereas those from Western Germany increased by 30 per cent.; and if he will make a statement on the representations he proposes to make to the Canadian Government to lower its tariffs on British goods.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

Yes, but Germany's exports to Canada are only about one-ninth of ours. While we, like all other exporting countries, would welcome lower tariffs, I see no occasion for any representations to the Canadian Government since the Canadian tariff is not the cause of the fall in our exports to Canada last year; this was due, as I said in the House last week, to the shrinkage of Canadian demand.