NOTES FOR EDITORS
Notes are provided on the following:
1
The Shipping Contracts and Commercial Documents Act 1964
2
The Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975
3
The Secretary of State for Trade's reaction to the shipping criminal indictments on 1 June 1979
4
Extract from a speech made by the Secretary of State for Trade in Los Angeles on 14 September 1979
5
US antitrust legislation
6 Shipping antitrust case
7
Uranium antitrust case
8 Some other jurisdictional problems
1
Existing Legislation
The Shipping Contracts and Commercial Documents Act 1964, which will be superseded and repealed by this Bill when it is enacted, contains provisions to counter measures under the laws of over- seas countries relating to shipping which infringe the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. It also provides certain powers for the Government to prohibit compliance with requirements to provide commercial documents and information to courts, tribunals and authorities of foreign countries.
2 The Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975 The Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975, which will be amended by this Bill when it is enacted, implemented the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters.
3
UK Reaction to Shipping Case
On 1 June the Secretary of State for Trade expressed "grave con- cern" at the announcement in Washington of criminal indictments alleging violations of US antitrust legislation by a number of shipping companies and individuals. They include two European consortia in which there is a substantial British element and two British nationals. Mr Nott said:-
"I have discussed the matter with the US Secretary of State, Mr Vance, during his visit to London last week and emphasised the UK Government's grave concern to him. Shipping is an international activity. It affects the interests of both countries. Any questions that arise should be dealt with jointly and we consider it wrong in principle for the US to exercise unilateral control over shipping between the two countries in disregard both of our economic interests and of our shipping policies. In the light of this latest
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