NO EASY MATTER

Feilding Star, Volume 9, Issue 3848, 3 October 1932, Page 4

NO EASY MATTER

FRANCO-AFERICAN TREATY TRADE niT P.A' TARIFF A message from Paris says it is gradually becoming realised (hat tlie conclusion of a Franco-American Commercial Agreement will be by no means an easy matter. Xo official declaration has been made on the subject. But it lias been broadly hinted in various quarters that (lie French negotiations must take eare to ensure rliai there a substantial return for any concession they may make Ir is pointed out that the tariff revision ndupte! in (lie Fnited States in 1030 resuited in French exports to that country being reduced hy 52 per cent. In 1921) France sold ro the Cnited States goods lo the value of £37.030.000. lit 193 J her exports to America dropped to £ 1 7. 725.000. nn.l tlie decrease lias continued. The sales during the first quarter of the present year amounted to little more titan a third of those of the corresponding period of lost year. Frenoh eritics of the propose! agreement complain that rile regime now in force in America will not allow tlie Fnited, States Government to grant special tariff reductions to any particular country. Tke idea is therefore growing that before France ojiens her markets more readily ro American goods she should be assured of corresponding advantages In the form of preferential ta- , tiffs, or perhaps in war debts settlements.