The Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act 1931 (
22 & 23 Geo. 5. c. 1) was an
Act of the
Parliament of the United Kingdom enacted on 20 November 1931 which gave the
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a British government body concerned with commerce and industry, currently within the Department for International Trade. Its full title is The Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of ...
, with the agreement of
HM Treasury, the power to impose or raise duties up to 100% ''
ad valorem'' on specific imported goods which were imported in "abnormal quantities". Each order under this power would be put before the House of Commons immediately and would expire in 28 days unless the Commons extended it by resolution. It had a lifespan of six months and was not extended.
[Clinton L. Rossiter, ''Constitutional Dictatorship - Crisis in Government in Modern Democracies'', pp. 179-80.]
Notes
United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1931
Economic history of the United Kingdom
1930s in economic history
{{UK-statute-stub