§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement concerning the duty-free status of Chinese bicycles imported into the United Kingdom;
263W(2) if he will press the European Commission to change the import rules so that duty is applied retrospectively to all those imports of bicycles from China in excess of the approved import thresholds in 1991 and in 1992; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Sainsbury[holding answer 18 February 1992]: Bicycles from China enter the United Kingdom under the European Community's generalised system of preferences —GSP—scheme which allows entry duty-free up to a threshold or ceiling of 9.45 mecu worth of bicycles. After this threshold is reached, duty may be reimposed by the Commission at the request of a member state if they are satisfied that domestic industry is being damaged by such imports. A review of the whole generalised system of preferences scheme is to be held this year. The views of the bicycle manufacturers, as of other sectors of industry, will be sought on changes which might be made to the operation of the scheme.