asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of vacuum flasks of Chinese manufacture being imported into this country; and if he will state the circumstances of these imports.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Import of Chinese Vacuum Flasks.
32.
While I am aware that vacuum flasks are being imported into this country, I am not in a position to say that they are of Chinese manufacture. The position is that flasks may be imported from any source on payment of the appropriate import duty or free of duty under licence if their capacity is three pints or over.
If it is stated on the container that they are of Chinese manufacture. I assume it is so. Is the Minister aware that these flasks are competing with home-manufactured flasks?
I am not aware officially of the fact that there are Chinese flasks circulating here but informal inquiries which have been made indicate that this may be so. Any such flasks which have come in are assumed to have been subject to duty which, in their case, would be 40 per cent ad valorem.
Is there a chink in the customs arrangements?
Has the Minister received any representations from the trade because of the effect of competition from these flasks?
No, not as yet anyway.