TRADE WITH AMERICA

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 104, 13 April 1933, Page 9

TRADE WITH AMERICA

AGREEMENT FAVOURED. “AN OPPORTUNITY AWAITED.” Advice that the Government is favourable toward the idea of establishing a satisfactory commercial agreement with the United States is conveyed in a communication received by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce from the Minister of Customs, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. On April 7, following a resolution of the council of the chamber, the president, Mr. Harvey Turner, wrote to Mr. Coates as follows:— “In a Press Association message from Washington on March 22, it was reported that State Department officials were seeking legislation authorising the Administration to negotiate reciprocal commercial treaties based on mutual tariff concessions. The adverse nature of the trade balance between New Zealand and America has been the cause of great concern to the commercial community, and we should be interested to know whether tho Government has made any overtures to ward the United States Government with a view to the negotiating of a trade agreement, or whether such overtures are contemplated. “Arrangements previously made with Japan and Belgium were greatly welcomed by the commercial community mid an extension of this principle to the United States would be more than welcome.” Mr. Contes has sent the following reply:—“The New Zealand Government is willing to conclude a satisfactory commercial agreement with tho United States and is awaiting a favourable opportunity of going into the matter.”