AUSTRALIA’S NEW TARIFF

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21791, 25 May 1936, Page 15

AUSTRALIA’S NEW TARIFF

Wool Producers Fear Japanese Reprisals AMERICA’S BIG TRADE LOSSES (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT.) (Received May 24, 8.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 24. Apart from wool growers, who fear that Japan may be irritated and may even seek reprisals, the announcement of Australia’s new tariff has caused general satisfaction. The motor trade of the Commonwealth is reported to haye received its biggest surprise for many years, and far-reaching readjustments of trade with exporting countries are expected to begin almost immediately.

A substantial increase in employment in most of the protected industries is forecast. Importations of United States and Canadian chassis are to be restricted to 50,000 a year. There are no restrictions on Japanese rayon, on which the rates of duty are slightly increased, but large Australian purchases are likely to be diverted to Japan at the expense of the United States. The trade in fashion goods from America, except as samples, will, it is expected, be diverted to France, which is a good customer of the country. The United States will lose almost its entire Australian trade in refrigeration plant, toilet preparations. machinery, boots, shoes, paper, and other manufactured products. OPENING SHOT IN TRADE WAR JAPANESE COMMENT (Received May 24, 8 p.m.) TOKYO. May 23. The press features “Canberra’s Anti-Japanese Measure.” Headlines describe it as the opening shot in a trade war. The articles comment on the wreck of the treaty negotiations. ■ . _ . hlf A The press also reports that Mr A. T. Brennan, the South African trade commissioner, is touring Western Japan, actively canvassing Osaka business houses and Nagoya woollen mills for wool and other South African goods. CONTROL OF JAPANESE exports (Received May 24, 5.5 p.m.) TOKYO, May 22. The Ministry for Commerce and Industry has ordered the Silk, Rayon, and Textile Exporters’ Association strictly to control exports to Australia and other specified countries. CHANGES DISCUSSED IN LONDON A FAVOURABLE IMPRESSION LONDON, May 22. Political quarters are favourably impressed by the Australian tariff changes, especially as they have been made unconditionally. Lest foreign countries, which might be adversely affected, should associate the revision with joint action by Australia and Britain, it is emphasised in Whitehall that no preliminary sounding was taken here. The changes are expected to minimise the problem of revising the Ottawa Agreement and they are approved on the grounds that such decisions are better made individually than being thrashed out at largescale conferences. The “Daily Mail” says that Australia’s action makes it more than ever a matter of honour and selfinterest that Britain should reply by introducing a straight tariff with a thoroughly effective preference for Empire products.