FOR PRESS POLYVINYL CHLORIDE PRODUCTS
( Statement by the Acting Prime Minister,
and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. J. MoEwen)
The Acting Prime Minister and Minister for
Trade and Industry, Mr. J. McEwen, announced today that
temporary duties would operate as from Monday morning
on certain polyvinyl chloride products, viz:-sheet,.
film, textile coated or supported fabrics, curtains ' and
tablecloths. The temporary duties would be in addition to
t~ he normal duties, but would not apply to goods in dirg*
transit to Australia on 2nd June, 1966 and entered fov
home consumption wi+ hin twenty-one days after importation.
Mr. McEwen said that the temporary duties were
as recommended by the Special Advisory Authority, Sir'Frank
Meere, who had been requested to conduct an inquiry
into claims by the Australian industry that urgent action
was necessary to protect the industry from import
competition, in the-main from Japan.
The Tariff Board has been asked to inquire and
report on the protective needs of the industry, and ' the
temporary protection now imposed is holding action pending
the Governiment' s decision on receipt of the Tariff Board
report. Mr. McEwen went on to say that, in his report,
Sir Frank Meere had referred to the fact that a suggestion
had been put forward on behalf of the Japan Vinyl Goods
Manufacturers' Association for some restriction of exports
from Japan to Australia. However, this offer to control
exports to Australia had been made at a late stage of the
inquiry and there had not been sufficient time for Sir
Frank Meere to obtain the views of other interested
parties or to give it adequate consideration.
Since the'I report has been received there has
been further representations about voluntary restraint
of exports from Japan but so far there has not been a
specific proposal put forward for the Government to
consider, Mr. McEwen said.
The Government would, however, be prepared t~ o
give serious consideration to a proposal which would
provide satisfactory holding action until the Government~
has made its decision following the Tariff Board report.
Accordingly, provision is being made now which would allow
the previous duties to operate without the additional
temporary duties if such a proposal is actoepted,
Copies of the Special Advisory Authority's
report, which will be tabled in the Parliament, are
available from the Department of Trade and Industry,
Canberra and Collectors of Customs in all States.
CANBER'RA A. C. T.
July, 1966. 50/ 66T