TRADE TREATIES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 144, 21 June 1933, Page 7

TRADE TREATIES

AUSTRALIA'S POLICY TARIFF; CONCESSIONS (From,"The Post's" Representative.) ■ ■ ' -V ■" 'SYDNEY, Juie 8. It is ' generally recognised that Australia's economic future depends upon increasing the volumo of trade. Having • successfully piloted through! tho House of Bepregentatives many important changes ia'the tariff, tho Minister for Customs-(Mr. White) is now concentrating on the question of aeauring trade treaties- with countries outaide the Empire. It is hoped that Australia • has reached a stage of fiscal truce, as it were, and that it will not • be- necessary to amend the tariff for many years to come, except to make adjustments from tim© to time. This being so the Minister is at last on solid ground, and can devise a policy which is unlikoly to be upset before the signatures are applied to any agreements that might be.drawn* up.' Much research work has been done by a special committee of senior officials of tho Customs Department, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of External Affairs. This committee has been exploring the possibility of further trade treaties, and a special "sub-committee of the Federal Cabinet has been concerned with the policy aspect. Great. care must be exercised to see that no agreement encroaches upon the commitments to Great Britain and the rest of-the Empire' under the Ottawa Agreement. At tho same time Australia is anxious-to Ijc ready to avail herself speedily of whatever opportunities for trade expansion which might arise from the World Conference. The, trade outlook in Australia has undergone a complete change since the world depression. Until a few years ago' Australia was willing to wait for trade to. come her way. Now she realises that if she wants business she must go out after it. Ottawa gave the Commonwealth's advisers experience that will be of great value in any further trade negotiations. Countrios with which treaties willbe considered in tho near future are Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Czechoslovakia. Belgium and Germany once took large quantities, of frozen meat from Australia, and it might be possible to revive that trado. The trado in dried and fresh fruits might be increased.- "France ha's already indicated her willingness_ to enter into trado negotiations with Australia. Franco has many surcharges, prohibitions, and quotas against Australian goods and complaints about Australian tariffs upon her fancy goods, confectionery, and perfumes. Australia bears in mind that in this search for new trade there are many rivals in.tho field. She will have to be prepared to give something in return for any concessions that may be granted to her. What Australia can be expected to get will always be influenced by what she is prepared to give. In the circumstances it seems safe to predict that there will bo a few holes made in the high tariff walls before any agreements are signed.