Anglo – Australian Trade Conditions Unaltered

Northern Advocate, 22 July 1938, Page 5

Anglo - Australian Trade Conditions Unaltered

(Received 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, July 20. In the White Paper embodying the conclusions in the Anglo-Australian trade discussions it is stated that not only has the existing preferential arrangements between the two countries been examined, but Empire problems have ,in a spirit of mutual sympathy and good will, been considered in their widest aspects, with a view to ensuring the maximum mutual co-operation in their solution. The memorandum recalls that in the Ottawa Agreement of 1932 an arrangement was made to meet difficulties in Anglo-Australian trade relations^—which are analysed—by the provisions of Articles 9 to 13, and observes that these articles have worked in practice fairly satisfactorily. They have been criticised, however, and the two Governments have been engaged for some time in view -of various matters arising from them. It has proved impracticable to revise the articles to satisfy the requirements of both countries, land so, with the view to the adoption of an alternative solution—namely, a schedule of maximum rates of duty—the Australian Ministers have stated that the Commonwealth will investigate the possibilities. In the. meantime, pending a decision by the Commonwealth, the present agreement is t Q continue in force, although in order to obviate certain past difficuKlibs Britain has Agreed not to press her objections to the interpretation now placed by the Australian Tariff Bo'ard upon Article 10; while Australian has undertaken to make every effort to ensure that the Tariff Board’s recommendations under Article 11 are made effective. Regarding the marketing of primary produce in the United Kingdom it is felt by both parties that in the present state of trade the interests of all parties could be best served by orderly marketing secured by collective action on the lines of the arrangements for the Empire Beef Council and the international Beef Conference.