TRADE POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 52, 2 March 1934, Page 12

TRADE POLICY

A MEMORANDUM

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

J (From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, January 23.A memorandum ii'as be'en sent to th« president of .the Board of Trade by the ' Association of British Chambers of'com- - uierce. The latter body congratulates the Government on"having denounced thu Tariff Truce, bui poiuts out that iix certain treaties recently negotiated the Government lias reduced British' Ij-ffs and complains that'-the interests of the trades affected,, after having been granted some protection and encouraged to expend capital, have b'eeu sacrificed tc the -advantage -of otuevs without their .being heard in their defence by the properly constituted authority. The statement proceeds:— "As tariffs, exchange restrictions, quotas and special arrangements are all being used to the disadvantage of our industry, the association urges that, the : Import Duties Advisory Board should keep all these factors under review, and should recommend such revisions of the tariff or other adjustment* ■as arc necessary. GROUPING OF COUNTRIES. 'The association considers that Great Britain, and the nations which join her in an effort, to.restore world trade, should agree on the principles to be observed and should concede niost-fiivourcd-iuttiou terms: only to .each other. : . ' . .-■ . - - "Among these principles should ba an obligation on each creditor nation to accept such payment in goods and services as will offset its creditors position and on all co-operating nations an obligation to stabilise prices and currencies and .to-, restore freedom ...of the seas for peaceful commerce without flag discrimination or uneconomic subsidies. ■' .-. • •'•Bilateral ■' agreements should first be negotiated, but should ba framed as far as possible:' to lead uaturally tc the'formation of a group of countries which are prepared to trade with ont another an the agreed principles. \ "The association submits that the • British' tariff should consist of three columns: (1) the Imperial preference tariff to be granted to the'countries of the Empire; (2) .an'intermediate tariff to be granted to- the. most-favoured nations: (3) a general tariff to be applied to all other countries."