DUTIES ON FRENCH GOODS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21087, 12 February 1934, Page 9

DUTIES ON FRENCH GOODS

REPRISALS FOR QUOTAS MANY CLASSES OF IMPORTS AFFECTED (britisb oincnt. wimlssi.) (Received February 11, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, February 9. The British Government's threat, that unless the French import quotas for British goods were fully restored it would be compelled to take retaliatory action by imposing additional duties on a range of French products, has now been carried out. As the quotas have not been fully restored an order has now been made under Section 12 of the Import Duties Act, imposing a duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem over and above the existing duties upon certain classes of goods produced or manufactured in France, to take effect from February 13. The order has been framed with a view to effecting a reduction of imports into the United Kingdom from France as near as maybe equivalent to the reduction in British exports to France resulting from the differential quota restrictions which are still maintained. The classes of goods covered by the order include articles of apparel of all kinds, complete or incomplete, shaped materials for making into apparel, boots and shoes, etc., feather articles, flowers and fruit, and articles incorporating them, skins, goods manufactured wholly or partly of furskin, and goods made wholly or partly of silk.

TRADE AGREEMENT LIKELY TO BE DENOUNCED CLARIFICATION OF ISSUE (Received February It, 3.15 p.m.) PARIS, February 10. A Foreign Office official says that France could not grant the unconditional restoration of all import quotas on British goods without sacrificing her whole quota policy. Consequently the Government would probably denounce the French and British trade agreement of 1882 to enable the clarification of the issue. "HITTING BELOW BELT" RESENTMENT AT BRITISH ACTION (Received February 12, 12.10 a.m.) PARIS, February 11. The Cabinet, at its first meeting, decided to send a note to Great Britain announcing resistance to the demand for restoration of the quotas on British goods. Official circles describe the introduction of the British duties when France is wrestling with a critical situation as hitting below the belt. EMPIRE TOUR BY MR THOMAS + MINISTER NOT LIKELY TO TRAVEL WITH PRINCE LONDON, February 9. Those highly placed discredit the report that Mr J. H. Thomas, Secretary of State for the Dominions, will accompany Prince George, though it is not unlikely that he will go to Australia at approximately the same time.