TRADE RECIPROCITY

Otago Witness, Issue 3610, 22 May 1923, Page 25

TRADE RECIPROCITY

CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES. OTTAWA, May 14. Mr Robert Forke, the leader of the Progressives in the House of Commons, introduced an amendment to the Budget proposing reciprocity with the United States, as outlined in the proposed 1911 agreement. He also introduced amendments providing for an immediate increase in the British preference to 50 per cent., and a substantial reduction of the tariff on the necessities of life and pro? duction implements. Sir Henry Drayton, a former Conservative Minister of Finance, called the reciprocity proposal an idle gesture designed to please the Progressives. CANADA AND AUSTRALIA. OTTAWA, May 15. Mr W. S. Fielding (Minister of binance) in his Budget speech announced that if Australia would agree to an arrangement bringing her under the British preference as far as the Canadian tariff is concerned, currants and raisins would enter free, and all other Australian products would receive the same preferential treatment which British goods receive. Canada desired to accord Australia exceptional opportunities for trade with the dominion by permitting wool to be exempt from the sales tax. Currants and raisins which, come under the regular tariff will now carry a duty increased to 3 cents per pound. Mr Fielding said the purpose of this offer is to permit Australia to gain an advantage over other competitors by agreeing to the preference arrangement. CAPETOWN. May 2. South African merchants are very perturbed at the possibility of Australia restricting the importation of South African maize. Australia is at present one of the best markets for South Africa’s huge surplus maize crops, and ha 3 placed orders for delivery up till the end of the year. “Our Government threw a boomerang when it. imposed the dumping clause against Australian flour,” said a prominent Capo-t-O'-’-n merchant to-day, “and we cannot complain. The Government ought not to interfere in busine-s, as the effect must be injurious to the farmers.” PROTECTION AGAINST AMERICA URGED. OTTAWA, May 17. According to a telegram from Quebec, the Provincial Minister of Agriculture (Mr J. E. Caron), in a speech, urged the Dominion Government to take measures of reprisal against the United States by increasing the duty on American products to offset the losses which the Canadian farmers are facing through the operations of the Fordnev tariff. May 16. The sugar refineries are up in arms against the Government’s Budget which provides that sugar shall be duty free when it reaches 8 cents per pound. The refiners claim that they will be driven out of Canada. THE PREFERENCE DISCUSSION. NEW YORK, May 17. Indications of the interest created Dy the Canadian Parliament’s discussion on preference to Australian products can bo seen from the fact that tlie Australian Commissioner’s Office here has received inquiries from Canadian importers for information regarding imports, especially currants, raisins, and other Australian products. The fullest aid is being giyen by the Commissioner, who is following the discussions closely.