TRADE TREATIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21981, 16 June 1933, Page 10

TRADE TREATIES

AUSTRALIA’S POLICY (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 8. It is generally recognised that Australia’s economic future depends upon increasing the volume of trade. Having successfully piloted through the House of Representatives many important changes in the tariff, the Minister for Customs (Mr White) is now concentrating on the question of securing trade treaties with countries outside the Empire. It is hoped that Australia has reached a stage of fiscal truce, as it were, and that it will not be necessary, to amend the tariff for many years to come, except to make adjustments from time to time. This being so the Minister is at last on solid ground and can devise a policy which is unlikely to be upset before the signatures are applied to any agreements that might be drawn up.

Much research work has been done by a special committee of senior officials of the Customs, Department, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of External Affairs. This committee has been exploring the possibility of further trade treaties, and a special sub-com-mittee of the Federal Cabinet has been concerned with the policy aspect. Great care must be exercised to see that no agreement encroaches upon the commitments to Great Britain and the rc„t of the Empire under the Ottawa agreement. At the same time Australia is anxious to be ready to avail herself speedily of whatever opportunities for trade expansion might arise from the World Conference.

‘ The trade outlook in Australia has undergone a complete change since | the world depression. Until a few years ago Australia was willing to wait for trade to come her way. Now she realises that if she wants business she must go out after it. Ottawa gave the Commonwealth’s advisers experience that will be of great value in any further trade negotiations. Countries with which treaties will be considered in the near future are: Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Czechoslovakia. Belgium and Germany once took large quantities of frozen meat from Australia, and it might be possible to revive that trade. The trade in dried and fresh fruits might be increased. Prance has already indicated her willingness to enter into trade negotiations with Australia. Prance has many surcharges, prohibitions and quotas against Australian goods, and complains about Australian tariffs upon her fancy goods, confectionery and perfumes.

.Australia bears In mind that in this search for new trade there are many rivals in the field. She will have to be prepared to give something in return for any concessions that may be granted to her. What Australia can be expected to get will always be influenced by what she is prepared to give. In the circumstances it seems safe to predict that there will be a few holes made in the high tariff walls before any agreements are signed.