BRITAIN'S PART.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 270, 14 October 1932, Page 9

BRITAIN'S PART.

CONCESSIONS TO DOMINIONS. SCHEDULE OF DUTIES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 12. The terms of the schedules to the Ottawa agreements, hitherto kept back, mainly at the request of the Dominions, owing to the risks of forestalling, are revealed. It is on the basis of agreements, and the schedules thereto, contained in this report, that legislation has been drafted which will be taken up by the House of Commons immediately Parliament reassembles on Tuesday next. The legislation will he pressed forward with all speed, not only to prevent forestalling, but because under the Import Duties Act the provision

for free entry of imports from the Dominions nnd colonies will cease on November 15. In the opinion of the Government the agreements will greatly increase the opportunity of inter-imperial trading and will represent an important step toward the restoration of world trade. The agreements with all the Dominions follow the same general form. IMPORTS CLASSIFIED. Imports from Empire countries into the . United Kingdom fall into three classes, namely, those accorded entry free of duty subject to revision three years hence; those which are granted preference through the imposition of specific duties on foreign goods; and those which receive preference in virtue of the 10 per cent, ad valorem duty on foreign goods imposed under the Import Duties Act. In the first category are included eggs, poultry', butter, cheese, and other milk products from Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland and Southern Rhodesia. Foreign goods in the second category, respecting which Parliament will be asked to impose specific duties, are set out in the schedules to the agreements, and include wheat in grain, 2s per quarter; butter, 15s per quarter; and cheese, 15 per cent, ad valorem. Schedules to the various agreements set out the details of other proposed duties. In the schedule of the Canadian agreement the goods specified include a.pples, pears, canned apples, dried fruits, eggs and condensed milk. Under the corresponding schedule of the Australian agreement are included, in addition to the above, powdered milk, honey, raw oranges, and grapefruits.

The New Zealand agreement makes no additions to this list, but the schedules attached to the South African agreement include a number of specific duties to be imposed on foreign imports of various other fruits, raw and canned, and also a 10 per cent, ad valorem duty throughout the year on maize.

The only items specified in the corresponding schedule of the Newfoundland agreement are a duty on foreign cod liver oil of Is 4d per gallon and on chilled or frozen salmon of lid per pound. Under the United Kingdom and Indian agreement, which is subject to ratification, in India, provision is made for the imposition of duties on foreign imports of wheat, rice, castor oil, magnesium chloride and linseed. An undertaking is given by the United Kingdom Government not to reduce the existing general ad valorem duty of 10 per cent., imposed under the Import Duty Act on a large class of foreign goods, which are also enumerated in special schedules to the agreements with the Dominions whose interests are affected. LOWER DOMINION TARIFFS.

In regard to the modification of the import duties- in the Dominion on articles imported from Britain, full particulars are given of the new rates imposed. In regard to Canada, these modifications apply to some 215 items, of which in 132 cases the duties on United Kingdom goods are to be reduced, while in 79 cases such goods are for the first time to enjoy freedom from Customs duty. On the basis of last year’s trade, over 40 per cent, of the imports from the United Kingdom into Canada will enjoy immediately the advantage of the iower Customs duties than those previously in force, goods- to the value of over eight million dollars being admitted free of Customs duty. The agreement with Australia provides that, subject to Tariff Board recommendations, United Kingdom goods will enjoy certain minimum preferences, graded according to the duties chargeable upon them. The minimum margin of preference will range from 15 per cent, ad valorem, when the duty on United Kingdom goods is up to 19 per cent, ad valorem, to 20 per cent, preference where the duty is 29 per cent. ; but the maximum duty rate must not exceed 75 per cent. Preferences exceeding those resulting from application of the formula will remain at the existing level, subject to certain minor reservations. Certain prohibitions on British imports are withdrawn, and the removal of surcharges and primage duties is promised as soon as it is practicable. REGULATION OF MEAT IMPORTS. An important feature of the Australian agreement has reference to the arrangements for the regulation of imports into Britain of frozen and chilled meat. It provides, inter alia, for Australia limiting the export of frozen mutton and lamb to Britain 1933 to an amount equivalent to that so imported in the year ending June 30 last. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Government will arrange with the Australian Government for regulation of the importation of foreign meat in accordance with the agreed programme, and for quantitive regulation of supplies of bacon and hams coming on the United Kingdom market. The Governments will consult in 1933 on the best means of securing an improved price situation, and more orderly marketing of supplies. Britain already enjoys a very large proportion of New Zealand trade. In the new agreement the Dominion undertakes not to increase the primage duty, to lower still further the existing duties, to abolish the surtax on British goods, and to modify certain basic import duties. Increased margins of preferences on United Kingdom goods are granted by the South African agreement, affecting £2,200,000 worth of trade, of which Britain hitherto supplied £400,000. Hitherto Newfoundland had not adopted the principle of Imperial preference, but its agreeinnt provides as from July next for preferences of 10 per cent, on a wide range of goods, subject to certain reservations. India absorbs about 10 per cent, of Britain’s- total exports, but hitherto Britain had no Customs advantages. Preferences are now proposed on articles in which the total trade last year was £34,900,000 of which Britain supplied £14,300,000.