FOREIGN TRADE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12528, 18 August 1926, Page 7

FOREIGN TRADE

AMERICAN RESTRICTIONS ARBITRARY CUSTOMS TARIFFS PRIMARY PRODUCERS HANDICAPPED The fact that the American Manufacturers’ Export Association has set up a committee to investigate the impediments to their foreign trade was directed to the notice of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at last night’s meeting by a well-known mercantile firm. The communication pointed out that this investigation afforded the chamber an opportunity to explain to the American exporters that they could not reasonably expect the Dominion to buy their goods when, by high and arbitrarily fixed Customs tariffs in the United States, they sought to prohibit the importations of primary and every day products, and thus practically dictated to New Zealand that they would not accept goods in payment for those of their own manufacture. They placed extremely heavy duties against Dominion products, such as meat, wool, butter, and cheese, and, in fact, all the main products of this country. “NOT BOTH WAYS.” Dispite this fact, the States were looking to do increased business with the Dominion. “They cannot have it both ways,” added the letter, and concluded : ‘‘lf they will not permit us to pay for importations from America with what we ourselves produce, then they must be content to stand by and let us foster the trade with the United Kingdom, which takes from us, without restriction, practically everything we produce.” The chairman (Mr J. R. Simpson) observed that the New Zealand viewpoint of the question certainly differed from that of America. The secretary was instructed to writs to the American Manufacturers’ Export Association quoting some of the prices of New Zealand products, and pointing out the handicaps that were being placed in the way of trade with the United States.