CONCERN IN BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27274, 28 December 1949, Page 5

CONCERN IN BRITAIN

Price Cutting By Japan Threat To Export Markets N ZPA—Copyright Rec. 8.20 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 27. British industrialists are becoming increasingly concerned about the threat of price-cutting by Japan. One well-known Staffordshire engineering firm has complained to the Board of Trade that as the result of United States pressure, Japanese and German goods are being sold in certain South American countries at prices very much below those of equivalent British goods. Japanese electrical appliances, for instance, are being sold for 60 to 70 per cent, less than British, and Japanese tools for 30 to 38 per cent, less. “It is no use America, with her tongue in her cheek, giving us Marshall aid and at the same time helping to destroy our export markets,’’ said a spokesman for the firm. Mr S. A. Davies, Midlands regional controller for the Ministry of Supply, gave another example of Japanese competition. Some time ago, he said, British manufacturers found that although they were producing 25,000,000 sewing machine needles a week, this was not enough tQ supply the export demand. Accordingly, some American importers made arrangements to obtain needles from Japan at a price of 4s 6d a 1000 compared with the British price of 7s. Unfortunately for the Japanese, said Mr Davies, many of their needles had no points or eyes and as a result Britain was now recapturing the trade.