N.Z. CONCESSIONS ARE INDICATED BY MR NASH

Grey River Argus, 11 October 1949, Page 5

N.Z. CONCESSIONS ARE INDICATED BY MR NASH

P.A. WELLINGTON, Oct. 10 Details of tariff concessions to which New Zealand will agree as the result of this year’s negotiations at Annecy will be given to-night by the Minister of Finance, Rt. Hon. W. Nash. He said that a general agreement on tariffs and trade was completed at Geneva in 1947 among twenty-three countries, including New Zealand. This had provided for the accession of other Governments to the agreement on terms to be agreed between such Governments and the existing contracting parties. Such terms would, naturally, include the granting of mutual tariff concessions.

New Zealand completed negotiations with Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden and Uruguay. It was mutually ag 'eed that trade between New Zealand and the other countries represented did not offer scope for negotiations.

“Negotiations are generally conducted with countries which are the principal suppliers of the goods concerned, and New Zealand will obtain the benefit of all the concessions offered to other countries,” said Mr Nash. “During the negotiations there was continuous consultation among the Commonwealth Governments to ensure that essential interests were safeguarded. Although the scope of negotiations was rather limited, so far as New Zealand was concerned, it was hoped that the concessions, both direct and indirect, which would become available to New Zealand would prove helpful in the marketing of our produce overseas.” Mr Nash said the protocal providing for the accession of new Governments to the agreement, which was opened for signature at New York on October 15, and which will remain open until November 30, will not take effect before January 1, 1950. It will then become elfective in respect of an acceding Government only if such Government has signed the protocol by November 30, and if two-thirds of the present contracting parties have also signed by that date. “Concessions offered by New Zealand which will involve some reduction in duty are as follows: — Item ex 101, cream of tartar; Existing twenty per cent, duty retained, but surtax to be removed. 129:—Rennet: Net duty reduced from 20 to fifteen per cent., and surtax to be removed.

229 (5): Marble dressed: —Margin of preference not to exceed the present five per cent. Surtax to be removed.

Ex 356' (1) (b): —Spring blind rollers: Reduction from fifty to forty per cent. Ex 404 (2) and (3): —Coniferous timbers; ex 405: Margin of preference not to exceed that for redwood, douglas fir, and hemlock. This involves a reduction in duty by one shilling per hundred super feet, and removal of the surtax, but there is no commitment on the rates of duty. 407 (2): Doors, wooden; Reduction from 9s 6d per door or 65 per cent., which ever is the higher, to 8s per door or 50 per cent; and surtax to be removed.

Ex 414 (2): Prefabricated timber houses: Reduction from fifty to forty per cent.” Mr Nash said that in repect of the following items, it had been agreed to maintain the existing rates. With the exceptio nof Vermouth, which is subject to 9s oer gallon duty all these goods are admissible free of duty ,except a primage duty of three per cent: —Item 52 ex (1) almonds; 90 ex (2) vermouth; ex 95, tartaric acid; ex 295 glazed transparent greaseproof paper; 299 fruit wrapping paper; 334 ex (2) (b) c-ream separators; 394 ex (3) sunflower seed oil .peanut oik Concessions offered directly to New Zealand by other countrires include the following offers by Sweden:—ln each case the present rate is given first, followed by the rate offered:—Apples: Fresh, April 1, to June 30, per hundred kilo, ten kroner —free; pears, ,fresh, March 1 to June 30, per hundred kilo, ten kroner—free; apples, dried, free — free; tomato pulp, May, 1 to November 30, per hundred kilo fifty kr.— twenty-five kr., and December 1 to April 30,fifteen kr.—fifteen kr.; tomatoes, preserved, per hundred kilo, 75 kr.—so, kr.; sausage casings, white clover seed, kauri gum, hides and skins: Present rate free, rate offered free. The following offers are made by Italy: Mutton and lamb, frozen, thrity-five per cent.—thirty per cent; butter, thirty per cent. — thirty per cent; sausage casings, five per cent. —five per cent; apples, fresh ten per cent—eight per cent (March 16 to June 30); kauri, gum, five per cent.—three per cent; tallow, free — free; rennet, twenty per cent. — twelve per cent; sheep skins and nelts .free —free; rabbit skins, free—free.

Offers by Denmark; Rennet per kilo, ten kroner —five kroner; grass and clover seeds, free—free.

Offers by Finland: Sheep skins and w’ool, free—free.

Offers by Uruguay: Pedigree sheep free —free (except for a special tax of 7 per cent, advalorem). The Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, said to-day that the agreement was to be made available for signature to-day at Lake Success, but signatures could be given at any time before next April. However, if any nation wished to give effect to the agreement by January 1 next it must sign the agreement by November.