RECIPROCAL TRADE AGREEMENTS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21729, 11 March 1936, Page 6

RECIPROCAL TRADE AGREEMENTS

EARLY CONSIDERATION BY THE GOVERNMENT

(f»«38 ASSOOIATIOJT TILIOKAU.) WELLINGTON, March 10. The promise of earnest and early consideration of reciprocal trade agreements was made to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at the annual meeting to-night by the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) after a plea for a review, of overseas trade treaties had been made in the presidential address by Mr G. C. McCaul. i "The Government must examine [the position of our trade with each country, and undertake negotiations with a view to negotiating trade treaties and securing rights for the- entry and sale of our produce according to the value of this Dominion as a consumer of that other country," said Mr Sullivan. "Such a course of reciprocal negotiations is the only logical one under present conditions of world trade. Unfortunately, definite action in these matters should have been undertaken years ago, and it is impracticable and inadvisable to rush hastily in such negotiations and agreements.

"You have my assurance, however, that the reciprocal trade agreements loom largely in the horizon of the' Labour Government's policy in relation to external trade, and that this question will have careful and detailed investigation as soon as more pressing internal matters have been disposed of."