MARGIN FOR TENDERS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30310, 10 December 1963, Page 17

MARGIN FOR TENDERS

U.S. Industry Protection (N.Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, Dec. 9. A Congressional committee is to discuss today new “buy American” legislation which could cost Britain, Japan and other countries millions of dollars’ worth of exports of turbines, generators and other electrical equipment to the United States. Under present regulations, tenders submitted by American firms are accepted if they are no more than 12 per cent higher than the lowest foreign bid. New legislation would increase the differential to 50 per cent for electrical equipment for dam and flood control projects and thus give American firms a big advantage. Britain. Japan, Switzerland and Sweden are the principal overseas suppliers of this type of equipment. The proposed legislation was accepted as an amendment to an appropriation bill by the Senate last week. However, the version of the bill passed by the House of Representatives does not contain a similar amendment and the Congressional committee is meeting to reconcile differences and draw up an agreed version.

Aid Welcome. Britain would be glad of all the help Australia and New Zealand can give in the South-east Asia area, “The Times” said today.—London, December 9.