THE BRITISH MARKET.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 307, 21 September 1908, Page 7

THE BRITISH MARKET.

AUSTRALIAN AND FRENCH TRADE. (by TELBGBAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTRIGn c i London, September 18. The Victorian Agent-General, Mr. Tavorner, speaking at a luncheon given by Mr. Imrio Kiralfy (Commissioner-Goneral of tho Franco-British Exhibition), to juries of exhibits at tho Exhibition, said that Australian trado and French trado in England wero complementary to each other, not competitive. ANGLO-FRENCH RECIPROCITY. There has been a movement on both sides of tho Channel towards an Anglo-French commoroial treaty to,reni3vo trade restrictions; and the same idea was jjiven elcouent expression by tho pen of the eminent French economist, M. ■Yves Guyot, iii the introduction which ho wrote to tho catalogue of tho French section of tlia Franco-British Exhibition. Mr. Taverner's expression of- opinion may, therefore, be hold to have some significance. By laying emphasis on non-competition, his remarks may be held to,encourage the idea of an Anglo-French commercial treaty. At the same time, it is to be noted that. one of the first benefits Franco would seek would be concessions on her wines and brandies.

This is mado clear by M. George Charente, French Deputy, who, in a plea for an AngloFrench commercial treaty, advooates, on the ono hand, a reduction of the British duties on French wines and bra!ndios; and, on the othor hand, tho abolition. of certain French regulations which impedo English navigation and commerce. He anticipates the day when the competition in armaments between Britain and Germany will drivo British financiers to higher duties, and thinks Franco should make good her position bv ,a treaty boforehand. Tho Association of Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom, now sitting at Cardiff, has decided to urge tho Government to ondeavour to entor into a special ticaty of commerce with France, involving much lower duties on goods for French colonies. Tho Association represents 108 Chambers of Commerce. The protectionist section in Franco is of course to be reckoned with as its attitude to the FrancoCanadian commercial treaty shows.