German Tariff

Grey River Argus, 17 March 1932, Page 5

German Tariff

BUTTER IMPORTS. AUSTRALIA AND N.Z. KEENLY INTERESTED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, March 15. The new German tariff move is described by well-informed people as getting in. first. i n readiness for the Ottawa Conference. It is believed that the probable upshot of the Australian negotiations will be a German undertaking to hold the super duties in abeyance for six months, on an assurance that a trade agreement similar to Britain s, shall be made within that period. The Australian Press have learned that New Zealand, in February, was able to do a good trade in butter in Germany, thanks to being a most favoured nation. Germany, under the recent treaty, agreed to admit 5000 tons of Finnish butter yearly at half-duty, namely 50 marks a hundred kilos. New Zealand successfully claimed equal treatment for a similar quantity, with the result that her butter is admitted at a duty of 50 -marks, plus the percentage added previously for depreciation in sterling. Australia’s butter, on the contrary, is subject to a duty of 140 marks, plus sterling depreciation percentage, making trade impossible. New Zealand’s favoured treatment was due to her adoption of the Anglo-Ger-man trade treaty of 1924. AUSTRALIA NEGOTIATING. LONDON, March 15. “There does not seem to be the slightest chance of Germany modifying her butter duties,” an Australian Dairy Council officer told the Sun-Her-ald correspondent. ‘* On the contrary, Germany seems to be resolved to stiffen the duties. It was thought that the Danes would be allowed to send any amount of butter to Germany until the quota of 5000 ions was exhausted but supplementary regulations limited the import of Danish butter to five hundred tons a month. Danish quotations in London have dropped 45s since February 18. Australian butter remained firm because it had not soared to Danish heights, but nobody can predict the course of the market, if barriers to international trade continue to be raised.’’ The Australian Press Association understands that arising out of the apple duty, the Commonwealth is negotiating for a trade treaty with Germany, who prefers the most favoured nation treatment, whereby apples exempt from super-tariff will be on the same footing as New Zealand. OVERTURES SUCCEED. fAus. & NZ. Cablo Assn. - ) BERLIN. March 15. The German Government announced to-day. that the new super-tax will be enforced against Canada, but not against Australia.