HC Deb 22 March 1976 vol 908 cc69-71W
Mr. Hoyle

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what percentage of the home market in coated fabrics is taken up by foreign imports; what evidence he has of dumping in this field; what are the major foreign suppliers in this field; and what are the tariff barriers facing the United Kingdom's own exports to their home markets;

(2) what evidence he has received of the dumping of coated fabrics whose origin was Hungary; what action he proposes to take in this matter; and what are the arrangements covering the export of coated fabrics from the United Kingdom to Hungary;

(3) what evidence he has received of the dumping of coated fabrics from Brazil; what action he proposes to take in this matter; and what are the arrangements covering the export of coated fabrics from the United Kingdom to Brazil.

1974 1975
£'000 £'000
Sales of decorative plastics coated fabrics by United Kingdom manufacturers employing 25 or more persons 38,665 28,846
Imports of all plastics coated fabrics 15,322 10,727
Exports of all plastics coated fabrics 11,641 6,740

The tariff barriers facing our exporters of PVC coated fabrics in the main supplying

Country Duty restrictions Licensing or other import restrictions
France 2.8 per cent, import duty plus a Customs Stamp Tax of 2 per cent, on the duty. None.
Federal Republic of Germany. 2.8 per cent, import duty None.

The tariff barriers facing exports of United Kingdom manufacturers PVC rigid and semi-rigid sheeting (BTN 39.02) in the main supplying countries to the United Kingdom are:

Mr. Deakins

The only request we have for anti-dumping action on coated fabrics is an application from the Leathercloth and Coated Fabrics Manufacturers' Association concerning PVC coated fabrics imported from Hungary and certain other countries. The Association has provided satisfactory prima facie evidence of dumping of Hungarian fabrics and an announcement of a full investigation was made on 16th March 1976. We await evidence in respect of the other countries named in the Association's application. As soon as this evidence is received we shall give immediate consideration to the extension of the investigation to the countries concerned.

There were no imports of PVC coated fabrics from Brazil in 1975.

The level of import penetration for coated fabrics cannot be given because of differences in scope between the data for overseas trade and for sales by United Kingdom manufacturers. The available information is given below:

countries to the United Kingdom are:

Irish Republic United Kingdom goods duty-free None.
Hungary* 40 per cent, import duty State Trading country.
German Democratic Republic. No import duties are levied on goods imported by Foreign Trade enterprises. State Trading country.
Sweden United Kingdom goods duty-free None.
Portugal (1) Fabric weighing up to 400 grams per square metre: the duty is assessed according to the fabric used. Import licences are required for consignments exceeding 25,000 Escudos (cif).
(2) Fabric weighing from 400 to 1,400 grams per square metre: United Kingdom goods duty free.
(3) Fabrics weighing over 1,400 grams per square metre: 3 Escudos per kilogram.
Canada 20¼ per cent, import duty on fob value for manmade fabrics and 18 per cent, of fob value on other fabrics. Import licences are required for "doubleknit" and "warpknit" fabrics.
* The question of import duties and import licences need not concern United Kingdom exporters since importations into Hungary are undertaken only by State trading organisations.

Please note ad valorem duties given above are expressed as percentages of cif value unless otherwise stated.

Exports of these fabrics to Brazil are

59.08 Textile fabrics impregnated or coated with preparation of cellulose derivatives or other artificial plastic.

Per cent.
59.08.0100 Insulating fabrics or tapes 125
59.08.9900 Other 185

Plus, in each case, manufacturers goods tax of 6 per cent.

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