HC Deb 11 June 1981 vol 6 cc169-70W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will take action to ban imports of Brazilian footwear until such time as Brazil removes its 15 per cent. export subsidy.

Mr. Parkinson

The international rules in the GATT provide only for the use of countervailing duties, and not import restrictions, against imports which benefit from a subsidy and where the effect of the subsidy is to cause or threaten material injury to domestic industry. We are considering with the British Footwear Manufacturers' Federation the possibility of seeking countervailing action by the European Community in this case.