Australia cuts some tariffs

Press, 8 December 1976, Page 6

Australia cuts some tariffs

PA Canberra The Australian Govem- ‘ ment announced last night 1 that it would cut tariffs by [ between 6 and 10 per cent ; on about one-third of the I goods that are protected by ! tariffs. The announcement! ; was made in both houses of [ the Australian Parliament. The Minister for Business ( and Consumer Affairs (Mr I (John Howard) told the House ; of Representatives that the' ; sweeping changes he an-; nounced were a consequence ' of Australia's 17.5 per cent (devaluation 10 davs ago. He spoke of ending quotas on car imports, as well as ; of cutting temporary proteci tion on a wide range of imports that cost about SIBOOM a year on Australia's import [bill. [ Mr Howard’s announce- [ ment, in almost all cases, did not give details of the extent of the tariff cuts that the Government was making. However, a Government I spokesman later said the cuts I generally ranged from 6 to 10 per cent. | Air Howard said that the Government’s quantitative re- ; strict ions on imports of fully [assembled cars, and its tariff [quotas on cars imported for (assembly in Australia, would [be removed from today. ; However, Mr Howard qualii fled this later in his speech iby saying that the GovemIment reaffirmed its policy [ that about 80 per cent of the Australian domestic car market would be preserved for the local industry. Mr Howard did not announce any cut in tariffs on (

either fully assembled oi ; knocked-down car imports. He said the tariff quota.' 'on galvanised steel sheet and the temporary duty on black-land-white television receivers would lie removed as soon a: I the necessary tariff arrange. ! ments could be made. The temporary assistants I measures that protected Aus I tralia’s footwear, clothing i textile, domestic appliance. I fine paper, plywood, and or range juice production, and the temporary protection 'given to tool companies making files and rasps, would not 'be removed.