TRADE PARLEYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22448, 18 June 1936, Page 13

TRADE PARLEYS

AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN CONCESSIONS TO TOKIO CANBERRA, June 17 As an inducement to Japan to reopen trade treaty negotiations, the Commonwealth Government is prepared to transfer Japanese goods from the general tariff division to the intermediate. This would reduce the duty on Japanese rayon from 9d a yard to 8d a yard and on cotton piece goods by one farthing all round. Australia also is prepared to undertake to ensure that Japan retains at least half her present textile trade while facilities also would bo afforded for Japan steadily to expand her Australian trade as a "good customer" country.

VIRTUAL DEADLOCK DEMANDS OF JAPANESE (Received Jure 17, 5.5 p.m.) TOKIO, June 16 Mr. Arita, Foreign Minister, is reported to have told the Cabinet that a resumption of trade negotiations with Australia is impossible unless Australia cancels the tariff increases against Japan. The Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. Amau, stated: "We are in communication with Mr. Murai, our Consul-Gen-eral in Australia, in regard to Sir Henry Gullett's latest offer to apply intermediate tariffs to Japanese goods which we regard as inadequate. Our attitude already has been clearly defined. Owing to Australia's drastic measures we are obliged to protect our trade by invoking the law, but if the Australians return to the status quo ante and are ready to talk on the same footing we are quite ready to talk to them."

AFRICAN WOOL PURCHASES FOR JAPAN CAPETOWN, June 16 Japanese wool buyers at Port Elizabeth are unusually interested in short wools. A steamer is loading 3700 bales compared with 12 bales exported to Japan last June.