§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on circumvention of the generalised system of preferences tariff by Asian bicycle companies.
§ Mr. NeedhamAlthough this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General, I have agreed to reply.
A number of investigations have been carried out by Customs and Excise to verify that bicycles coming from Asian countries have been manufactured in accordance with the rules of origin of the generalised system of preferences. No evidence has been found of circumvention. Customs continues to monitor imports to ensure that correct rates of duty are imposed.
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§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has any plans to review the European Community policy whereby Chinese bicycles enjoyed generalised system of preferences duty free status; if he has any plans to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese and Taiwanese bicycles; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe operation of the European Community's generalised system of preferences scheme is due for review this year. The concerns of the bicycle manufacturers, along with those of other sectors of industry, will be considered during discussions in the Community. I have no plans to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese and Taiwanese bicycles, since such action is a matter of Community competence. The European Commission is currently carrying out an anti-dumping investigation into imports of these bicycles.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many bicycles were imported from(a) China and (b) Taiwan in (i) 1990 and (ii) 1991; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe number of bicycles imported into the United Kingdom from China and Taiwan in 1990 and 1991 were as follows:
1990 1991 China 100,983 141,874 Taiwan 694,032 657,738 I have nothing to add to my earlier replies on this subject.