§ Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Trade what criteria he takes into account in determining unfair competition from countries such as Taiwan, Singapore and Korea which receive financial inducements for the manufacture of electronic products from their own Governments.
§ Mr. MeacherWhether financial inducements from Governments such as those mentioned constitute unfair competition would depend on their nature. Clearly, we would not regard Government aids similar to those available in the United Kingdom as unfair. But it would be otherwise if we established that such inducements constituted subsidies to exports contrary to the GATT. If we could also show that such unfair subsidies were causing or threatening 631W material injury to a British industry, countervailing action could be taken to offset their effect.
§ Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take action to stop the increase in the number of consumer electronic products imported into the United Kingdom from overseas.
§ Mr. MeacherFollowing discussions in the EEC, the duty previously suspended on imports of electronic calculators from countries covered by the Generalised Preference Scheme has been reimposed on one major supplier. Other questions relating to imports of consumer electronic products are under consideration.