AUSTRALIAN GOODS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 300, 15 September 1937, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN GOODS

Protection of Dominion

Manufacturers

CUSTOMS VIGILANCE Wellington importers of goods from Australia, whose statements find support in Auckland, believe that, as a result of the influx of Australian manufactured goods into the Dominion the Customs authorities are scrutinising very carefully any manufactures from Australia in which other than Australian materials might figure to a percentage value that makes the articles ineligible to the benefits of the special tariff preference extended to Australian goods under the trade agreement made In 1933. According to importers many classes of goods have recently been refused tariff preference under the agreement, it being obvious that the. Government is doing its utmost to protect the New Zealand manufacturer within the limits of the trade agreement with Australia. Importers declare also that the Customs Department is showing exceptional vigilance on the question of dumping, not only of Australian goods, but also of goods from other countries. As an example, it "recently imposed dumping duties on end-of-the-season frocks imported from the United States. When the department suspects from the value that dumping is taking place it often releases the goods on payment of a sufficient deposit, while it makes inquiries. Goods are liable to dumping duties if sold at less than the domestic price in the country of origin, or at prices less than the cost of manufacture, or where bounties have operated to make the. price charged profitable to the manufacturer. Australian manufactured goods recently refused preference duties, according to one importer, include rubber manufactures, such as tires and materials used in their repair. Such refusal Is based on Article N, of the agreement, which provides that goods are deemed to be the manufacture of Australia’if the final process of manufacture has been performed in Australia, and if the expenditure in material the produce of Australia or in labour performed in Australia, or both, in each and every article Is not. less than one-half of the factory or works cost of such article in its finished state.