TREATY MODIFIED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 8

TREATY MODIFIED.

TRADE AGREEMENT.

NEW ZEALAND-BELGIUM

CONCESSIONS DETAILED. f — i (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. The modification of tlie trade agreement between New Zealand and Belgium takes effect to-day. Under an arrangement made in December, 1933, New Zealand granted concessions in duty to certain classes of goods when imported from Belgium, including matches, bootlaces, carpets, moquettes, tapestry, tickings (other than those containing wool), bicycle tyres, glass and glassware, sensitised surfaces, firearms, lead and zinc. On the other hand Belgium undertook to admit certain New Zealand products, namely, animal fats, hides, skins, wool, cheese, apples and pliormiiim tejiax at rates not higher than those specified, the first-mentioned three items being free of duty.

Under the new agreement, New Zealand undertakes to remit the surtax on a number of items and in addition to admit some of them at reduced rates of duty. In making such concessions, however, care has been taken to, preserve, in conformity' with the Ottawa agreement, ti margin of British preference of not less than 20 per cent ad valorem, or the existing margin where it is lower than that figure, and in order that such should be the case steps have been taken to exempt from primage duty the classes of goods ail'eeted, which are now admissible free under the British preferential tariff.

Classes of Goods Affected. The following are the classcs of Bel gian goods affected: —

Items on which the surtax only has been remitted: Wine (other kinds), paper, 'cartridges, printing metals, nails, pipes. Items on which the surtax has been remitted and a reduction made in ths rate of duty include: Maizena and cornflour, cigars, wine (sparkling), gloves, belting for machinery, leather manufactures, glass (bevelled), cartridges (shot 10-24 bore), electrical machinery and appliances, batteries and colls other than storage batteries, machinery and machine tools, hydro extractors, weighing machines, industrial machinery, cast iron pipes (n.e.i.), ccntrifuguery, cast iron pipes over Gin to 12in diameter, pipe iittings of brass, electrical appliances (n.e.i.). Primage Duty Removed. In each case the surtax remitted amounts to nine-fortieths of the duty except in respect of cigars and shot cartridges (10-24 bore) in which cases the surtax is one-twentieth of the duty. The following are the items from which the primage duty has been removed in respect of goods admissible under the British preferential tariff: Maizena, cornflour, belting for machinery, etc., paper, cartridges (ball .22 calibre), electrical machinery and appliances, machinery (machine tools and appliances), industrial machinery, metals, nails, tacks, etc., pipes, tubes and tubing. Belgium lias undertaken to admit the following products imported from New Zealand at rates not higher than those indicated, viz., honey, natural, GO francs per 100 kilos net weight; sausage casings, salt, frasli or dried, freej kauri gums, free; casein, free.

The modification of the treaty was commented upon briefly in an article published in last evening's issue.