Australian Import Policy Outlined

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29745, 12 February 1962, Page 11

Australian Import Policy Outlined

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, February 11. Australia would not revert to import licensing on a wide scale unless required by serious balance of payments difficulties, the Minister of Trade (Mr McEwen) said today.

Mr McEwen was giving details of the operation of Government plans for quantitative restrictions to supplement present temporary duties.

He said any Australian industry seeking protection bv quantitative restrictions would have to take the initiative in seeking protection itself. The Government would not identify items which might require protection through quantitative restrictions.

Advisory Authority Quantitative restrictions would be granted only on the recoftimendaion of a special advisory authority which the Government would set up in the Tariff Board.

Mr McEwen said circumstances in which quantitative restrictions would be justified were:—

Where an inflow of imports reduced an Australian industry’s share of the market so as to make an otherwise stable industry unprofitable or even uneconomic.

Where a substantial fall in domestic demand resulting from general economic circumstances operating in Australia reduced an Australian industry to a serious situation unless the volume of imports was temporarily diminished.

Mr McEwen said that where it was established that imports were causing or threatening serious damage tc a particular industry, the special advisory authority ■would be able to recommend

any temporary protection necessary This could be a temporary duty, import restrictions, or both. “This would not conflict with commitments Australia accepts under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade,” Mr McEwen said.

“Advice of the special authority also could be sought in a situation in which a serious rundown of overseas balance was threatened. This is what the Prime Minister (Mr Menzies) had in mind when he referred to pressures which might need specifically designed measures.”