RECIPROCAL TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1937, Page 13

RECIPROCAL TRADE

BRITAIN AND U.S.A*

FAVOURABLE PROSPECTS OF.

SUCCESS

NEW YORK, November 16.

Mr. Delbert Clark, a member of the Washington staff of the "New York Times," in an exclusive article, says that British and American discussions for the purpose of deciding whether* negotiations for a reciprocal trade agreement should be attempted have entered an extremely active phase. They are proceeding simultaneously in Washington and London, but have not yet reached a definite point. However, the prospects of success in the trade discussions are considered so favourable that some quarters believe the announcement of the official opening of negotiations is imminent. - The British Cabinet recently took up [the subject directly, whereas the Board of Trade was previously acting. Important exchanges followed, the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, giving the matter his personal attention, and there is considerable optimism both in Washington and in London.

Britain in recent weeks has been consulting the Dominions, because the issues presumably will require modification of the system, but not the principle, of Empire preference in order to enable Britain to provide concessions to American agricultural products. ■ .

American concessions to Britain are expected to be chiefly concerned with manufactures.

However, apart from trade advantages, the move would be politically significant as indicating closer collaboration between Britain and America, and Js logically destined to bear fruit in many directions.