TRADE TREATY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 13

TRADE TREATY

TERMS MODIFIED

NEW ZEALAND AMD BELGIUM

RECIPROCAL CONCESSIONS

[llY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION*] WELLINGTON, Monday

Notification is given in a Gazette supplement, of the modification, which takes effect to-morrow, of the trade arrangement between New Zealand and Belgium, which has been in operation since December, 1933. Under this arrangement New Zealand granted concessions in duty to certain classes of goods when imported from Belgium, including matches, bootlaces, carpets,' moquettes, tapestry, tickings (other than those containing wool), bicycle tyres, glass and glassware, sensitised surfaces, firearms, lead and zinc. On the other hand Belgium undertook to admit certain New 21ealand products, namely, animal fats, hides, skins, wool, cheese, apples and phormium tenax at rates not higher than those specified, the first-mentioned three items being free of duty. Result of Negotiations The present modification or extension of the original trade arrangement is the culmination of negotiations instituted on behalf of Belgium early last year. The matter was further discussed ' by the lit. Hon. J. G. Coa.tes with the Belgian authorities during the visit made by him to Belgium in July, 1935, and the proposals Mere tentatively agreed to. Certain modifications con-f 1 ® sideied desirable from the point of view of this Dominion have since been made to the list of items involved. Under the agreement New Zealand undertakes to remit the surtax on a number of items and in addition to admit some of them at reduced rates of duty. In making such concessions, however, care has been t:iken to preserve, in conformity with the Ottawa agreement, a margin of British preference of not less than 20 per cent ad valorem, or the existing margin where it is lower than that figure, and in order that such should be the case steps have been taken to exempt from primage duty the classes of goods affected, which are now admissible free under the British preferential tariff. Classes oI Goods Affected The following aTe the classes of Belgian goods in respect; of which concessions in duty have been made:—ltems on which the surtax only has been remitted: Wine (other kinds), paper, cartridges, printing machines, metals, nails, pipes. Items on which the surtax has been remitted and a reduction made in the rate of duty include: Maizena and cornflour, cigars, wine (sparkling), gloves, belting for machinery, leather manufactures, glass (bevelled), 'cartridges (shot 10-24 bore), electrical machinery and appliances, batteries and cells other than storage batteries, machinery and machine tools, hydro extractors, weighing machines, industrial machinery, cast iron pipes (n.e.i.) centrifuguery, cast iron pipes over 6in. to 12in. diameter, pipe fittings of brass, electrical appliances (n.e.i.). In each case the surtax remitted amounts to nine-fortieths of the duty except in respect of cigars and. shot cartridges (10-24 bore) in which cases the surtax is one-twentieth of the duty. ■ • „ The fallowing are the items front which the primage duty has been removed in respect cf goods admissible under the British preferential tariff: Maizena, cornflour, belting for machinery, etc., paper, cartridges (ball .22 calibre), electrical machinery and appliances, machinery (machine tools and appliances), industrial machinery, metals, nails, tacks, etc., pipes, tubes and tubing. Belgium has undertaken to admit the following products imported, from New Zealand at rates not higher than those indicated, viz., honey, natural, 60 francs per 100 kilos net weight; sausage casings, salt, fresh or dried, free; kauri gums, free; casein, free.