Britain Will Prevent Unfair Trade Practices By Germans

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22868, 11 February 1949, Page 3

Britain Will Prevent Unfair Trade Practices By Germans

LONDON, Feb. 9. Two senior British Ministers reassured the House of Commons that German manufacturers would not be allowed to seize oversea markets by unfair practices. The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Ernest Bevin. said: “The British Government does not intend to use its position as an occupying Power to prevent the fair expansion of German exports, but I expect that the provision will be made in the occupation statute to give the military governors power to stop the development of unfair trade practices." The President of the Board of Trade. Mr Harold Wilson, said: “We must expect continued competition from certain classes of goods, but I shall be glad to investigate cases where German goods are sold at prices substantially below the world level or where there is evidence to suggest the use of unfair practices in the promotion of their exports." Mr. Wilson said that competition must be expected from chemicals, glass, clay and stone products, certain types of heavy engineering machinery, shipbuilding and scientific instruments, cement and some other products. “German competition certainly has not become a serious menace to our exports." lie said ‘The competition has caused fears out of ail relation to the goods involved."