§ 208. Mr. Brandon-BravoTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take action(a) unilaterally and (b) through the EEC to deal with Chinese imports that infringe the basis of their duty free status.
§ Mr. RyderI have been asked to reply.
As explained in an earlier reply to a similar question, HM Customs and Excise undertakes verification inquiries on imports for which preferential treatment is claimed. Where infringements of the EEC origin rules are detected, appropriate action is taken which includes the charging of full duty.
There is regular exchange of information between the Customs authorities of all EEC member states about infringements of the preferential trade arrangements. That information is used in the control of preferential imports to the EEC.