FREE TRADE PLEDGE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27302, 19 March 1954, Page 11

FREE TRADE PLEDGE

North American Declaration (Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Mar.-17L United States and Canadian Cabine® Ministers today pledged themselves to? work for a more flexible system of? world trade and payments, and tot avoid any action whidh would inter-f fere with the beneficial flow of trade between the two countries.

Both Governments also agreed that before disposing of their surplus farm: products abroad they would consult with interested countries to avoid damaging normal trade channels. A communique issued today after a meeting of the joint United StatesCanadian Governmental Committee on Trade and Economic Affairs, composed? of four Cabinet Ministers of eachf country, said a marked improvement' in the internal economic stability many countries had been noted, making possible some relaxation in im-j port restrictions. Nevertheless, it wag agreed that recovery to economic health had not progressed equally for all countries. *?What is needed, it was concluded, is the creation of a more flexible Sys- ' tern of trade and payments the world which would offer greater resilience to changing circumstances, and which would contribute dynamically towards raising standards of livcommunique added that the Ministers had given consideration to the need for action towards freer trade and payments on a broad front, agreeing that few things would contribute more to the well-being and stability of the free nations than a forward move in this direction.