TRADE AGREEMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21273, 19 December 1930, Page 5

TRADE AGREEMENT

CANADA AND AUSTRALIA

PRINCIPAL PROVISIONS OUTLINED

TENTATIVE ARRANGEMENT

(United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.)

Vancouver, December 17.

A message from Toronto says that Mr Parker Moloney, Australian Minister for Markets, stated that so far negotiations had been satisfactory, and he hoped for a successful treaty between Canada and Australia. It must be remembered, however, that any proposal would have to be ratified by the two Governments concerned. The Canadian Cabinet was meeting that day, and he did not doubt that the Australian Government would ratify the proposals. A message from Ottawa states that the trade agreement between Canada and Australia will be made public to-morrow. It contains much more favourable automobile and timber schedules for Canada than the existing pact, the latter items being especially helpful to Canada in competition with the United States in Australian markets. Canada’s preference on newsprint is extended to woodpulp, kraftpaper and fruit wrapping paper, ’.there are no changes in the agricultural implement schedules.

Butter carries eight cents with a proviso that if the combined Australian price and the Canadian duty is below 32 cents, the duty increases to stabilize the minimum import price at 32 cents. This is an extensive concession to the Canadian dairyman, who is fighting tooth and nail against Commonwealth butter and who threatened to upset the treaty on this item alone. Australia’s greatest gains are naturally in fruits, dried and fresh, and wines.