TRADE WITH CANADA
Dissatisfaction with the terms of the trade treaty with Canada has been expressed recently by representatives of the dairying industry. A few days ago, the chairman of the Dairy Produce Board expressed the view that the treaty has no value because a vital clause makes the admission of New Zealand produce into Canada conditional on the acquiescence of the Canadian Government. A similar interpretation of the treaty was presented in the monthly report by Amalgamated Dairies, published yesterday, its conclusion being that the agreement "apparently made it obligatory on the part of New Zealand exporters to obtain the permission of the Canadian Minister of Customs before they could ship butter to Canada." The only articles to which these criticisms are relevant are those providing for the imposition of dumping duties upon goods if importation "would prejudicially or injuriously affect the producers or manufacturers of similar goods" in Canada or New Zealand, the terms of the two clauses relating respectively to Canada and New Zealand being identical. The imposition of dumping duties is, however, subject to 30 days' notice, and so far there has not been any public notification of such action by Canada. The existence of these clauses, the evidence of hostility in Canada against the importation of New Zealand butter .and uncertainty regarding the resistance of the Government to representations which it inspires combine to create a serious obstacle against the efforts to revive the trade in butter. The market has not been particularly attractive, but if forecasts of a deficiency in domestic production are realised, opportunity for remunerative shipments to Canada may presently arise. The risk that they may be confronted at any moment with prohibitive dumping duties will continue to discount such prospects. This unsatisfactory situation should be clarified without delay. If the Canadian Government insists upon the right to threaten New Zealand exporters with this clause, the agreement becomes virtually useless and the process of revision, contemplated when it was made, should be undertaken as speedily as possible.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21358, 6 December 1932, Page 8
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335TRADE WITH CANADA New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21358, 6 December 1932, Page 8
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