CUTS IN DUTIES

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29860, 28 June 1962, Page 10

CUTS IN DUTIES

Imports By France (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) PARIS. June 25. The French Finance Ministry last night announced customs duties on industrial products imported from both inside and outside the Common Market would be cut from July 1. The tariff revisions, made as a result of the Common Market tariff policy, provided for: (1) A 10 per cent, cut on all industrial products imported from other Common Market countries. (2) A wide range of cuts—at a different rate—on industrial products such as cars, industrial equipment and textiles imported from the United States and other members of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. (3) Removal of customs duties on cereals, pork, eggs and poultry for imports from the market and “third” countries. The 10 per cent, cut inside the market brings to 50 per cent, the total reduction since the start of Common Market operations. Certain duties on agricultural products were removed because these duties will be replaced by “levies” under the Common Market, farm policy decided last January in Brussels. Whether, foreign products will be. cheaper for the French buyer remains to be seen. But certain foreign goods, particularly electrical household appliances, radio sets. and cameras. will definitely become more competitive in France, leading to increased imports.