§ Sir David KnoxTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the current average rates of import duties and other restrictions on both textile and clothing products in the United States of America, Australia, South Africa, China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Lithuania, Malaysia, Bulgaria, Philippines, Mexico, Argentina and South Korea.
§ Mr. NeedhamA table showing import duty rates and remarks on restrictions for textiles and clothing products in the 16 named countries follows.
In most cases a minimum and maximum rate are shown instead of an average duty rate because textile and clothing products cover a large range of tariff headings. Duty rates for a number of countries are likely to change as a consequence of the Uruguay round agreement. Further information on restrictions may be available from United Kingdom Posts overseas; to check this would have incurred disproportionate costs.
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Duty rate (per cent.) Remarks USA 0-38 38per cent. plus 48.5c/Kg No restrictions for United Kingdom textiles. Australia 3-34 No restrictions. Quota system finished. South Africa Textiles: Duty calculated on weight, 10 Rand per kilogram, or value, 50 per cent. of total consignment value (FOB), whichever is the greater. Surcharge of 5 per cent. Clothing: Duty calculated on weight, 50 Rand per kilogram, or value, 100 per cent. of total consignment value, which-ever is the greater. Surcharge of 15 per cent. Quotas are in place but have not been reached. China 3-100 No known restrictions. India Textiles: 85 per cent. plus 35 per cent. central excise tariff. Import licence required. Clothing: Imports banned.
Duty rate (per cent.) Remarks Pakistan (a) 95 (a) Does not include manufacturing tax. (b) 110 (b) Includes manufacturing tax. No known restrictions. Indonesia 5-45 Licensing requirements. Sri Lanka 10-50 No known restrictions. Brazil 10-20 No known restrictions. Lithuania 15 No known restrictions. Malaysia (a) 2-30 (a) Textiles: some products have sales tax 10 per cent. and 5 per cent. Surtax. (b) 25-35 (b) Clothing: 10 per cent. sales tax and 5 per cent. surtax for a majority of imports. No other restrictions. Bulgaria 5-25 Temporary import surcharge on all goods of 3 per cent. 1993, 2 per cent. 1994 Philippines 3-50 No restrictions. Mexico 5-20 Certificate of origin and labelling requirements. Argentina 15-20 No restrictions. South Korea 2-10 No restrictions.