JAPANESE TRADE RELATIONS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21133, 7 April 1934, Page 14

JAPANESE TRADE RELATIONS

Britain and the Dominions ILLUMINATING FIGURES LTHE PKESS Special Service] WELLINGTON, April 6. It has been suggested in London that Australia and New Zealand are ' no longer hostile to a trade rapprochement between Japan and Britain, and it has been stated that Japan has notified Britain that she is willing to join in a trade conference in London. The Dominions would naturally be vitally interested in any discussions between Japan and Great Britain, and, although it was not possible to obtain any official statement in Wellington today as to the attitude New Zealand would adopt towards any trade agreement with Japan, it is believed that the New Zealand Government nas no feeling of hostility towards Japan. However, the matter is regarded as an international and not a local one.

New Zealand's Attitude ( Some months ago there was an agitation on the part of certain trading |- intere.st.s in New Zealand against the free importation of Japanese goods, j , mainly on the score that they were , produced by cheap labour and werei ( thus able to compete very favourably j with, the locally-produced article ( Actually a suggestion was made that [ the Government should lake steps to,' prevent the importation of Japanese! goods info New Zealand, but I lie suggestion was not regarded favourably m ~ crucial circles. II is staled that Australia New j Zealand maintain a very satisfactory ; trade with Japan. Auslralia, in fad. j enjovs a very favourable trade balance.. ; and'at the present time is making! every endeavour to facilitate trade with Japan. Recently Australia decided to send the Commonwealth At-torney-General (Mi- J. G. Latham) on a goodwill visit to the East. ; As a London message says, Canada is considered to be the main opponent ol > any rapprochement between Great Britain and Japan, but this is probably ' due to her community of interest with j the United Stales of America, which up till recently had never looked favourably upon Japanese trade aspi- I rations. ' Latest Trade Figures The 1033 Financial and Economic Annual of Japan, published in Tokyo by the Department, of Finance, which was recently received in New Zealand, contains the latest available figures dealing with Japanese trade, and these are illuminating. During 1932 Japan exported commodities to the value of 1 409,991,077 yen. as against imports valued, at 1,43 i,4(j 1,220 yen. Goodssent to Great Britain were valued at 59,057,580 yen, and goods imported from Great Britain at 78,760.233 yen. America is Japan's biggest customer, and has been for a number of years. In 1932 Japan sent to the United States goods valued at 445,147,402 yen, and she took from America goods valued at 509.873,556 yen. Australia has a very favourable trade balance with Japan. Japan in 1932 sent to Australia goods valued at 30.895,205 yen, and she imported from Australia commodities of a value of 134.277.239 yen. In the ease of New Zealand, the j figures for 1932 were as follows:—-Ex- ! ports, 2,993.014 yen; imports, 1,470,000 ; yen. ! Exports and Imports | The following tables show 'in: thousands of yen) the value of thoprin- j eipal exports from and imports into j Japan during 1932 and 1931:--EXPORTS : Hem. 1932. 1931. ! Raw silk • - 382,300 355,391 j Cotton tissues .. 288,713 198,732 Silk and rayon tissues 110.(128 82,700; Knitted goods .. 20,935 21.170; Potteries .. 22,937 19.307 i Comestibles .. 22,774 13.943; Cotton yarns .. 21,547 8.511 i Wheat flour .. 20,539 9.517) Toys .. 15,119 9.823, Iron manufactures .. 14,193 10.240; Paper .. 14,022 20.995 Coal .. 13,451 15,009 Lamps and parts .. 12.754 7.784 Iron 11.329 9.954 Machinery and parts 10.943 18,041 IMPORTS Cotton .. 477.401 290,273 Mineral oil. .. 98.588 85,783 Wool .. 87,559 86,788 Iron .. 05,075 43,027 Machinery .- 00.573 50,910 Wheat .. 49.572 32.930 Beans and peas .. 42.070 37.349 Wood .. 35,029 43,379 Oil cake .. 34,599 44,319 < Coal .. 27.353 28.209 |