British Industry Fears For Overseas Trade

Chronicle (Levin), 22 January 1949, Page 5

British Industry Fears For Overseas Trade

• Received Eridav, 8.5A p.m. LONDOX, Jan. 21. The swift « transformation of the bizone of Germanv from a devastated area into a hive of industrial aetivity competing for the world 's expovt market3 has alarmed leading British manufacturers and trade unionists, says the Daily Mail. After inconclusive talks with the Minister of Supply (Mr. Strauss) they have approached Sir Stafford Cripps to ask Cabinet to^irutect British exporters from Gennau competition. They assert that because of low wages costs the Germans haA-e can tnred Amluable foreign orders from British firms. They fear that eheaply produced goods AA'ith a "Made in Ger many" trade marlc may again flood the markets of the_ world. Thongh many sections of the export trade share the anxietv the approach to Sir Stafford Cripps Avas made on be half of the engineering industry. Sir Stafford has arranged for the Presideul of the Board of Trade (Mr. Harold Wilson) to hear the case AA'hieh Avill be presented by Sir Grenville Maginnes, a member of the employers' panel of the Engineering Advisory Council, and Mr. Garvin Martin, secretary of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions. British industrialists who visited the bizone have been staggered by the resurrection of German industry since the currency reform last June. The ontput is noAAr baek to 75 per cent. of pre-war export, or at the rate of £200,000,000 a year. The Gennans .have b'een set an immediate target of doubling this. Britairi's scientific instrument niakers say that German Avorkers ' wages — the average is about £3 3s Aveelcly compared with £6 J.4s in Britain — make it impossible to compete with the Germans. They - claim that the future of the export trade Avhieh brings Britain £10,0.00,000 yearlv compared with £1,000,000 pre-war, is'in the balanee. Motor manufacturers, Avho are ap-preh-ensive about the groAving German competition in OAmrseas markets for small cars, have asked for safeguards. Diesel engine mann'facturers are also' complaining of German price-euttingv The Federation of Britislr, Industries has established a committee to report on the question of German exports.