TRADE BARRIERS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1935, Page 16

TRADE BARRIERS

MARKET IN UNITED STATES. DIFFICULTIES TN THE WAY. Difficulties at present preventing negotiation of a satisfactory reciprocal trade agreement with the United States of America were touched upon by Mr. Gaynor Jackson, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, when introducing Mr. P. M. Firth, newly-appointed New Zealand Tourist and Trade Commissioner to the West Coast of North America, and Mr. W. Taylor, newly-ap-pointed Trade Commissioner to Australia, to members of the council and the exporters’ and importers’ section committees. Mr. Jackson said there was a great potential market in the States for the export of New Zealand products. The chamber believed that once trade barriers were down there would be a market for our primary products. The chamber had for some time been investigating the possibility of a satisfactory trade agreement, and one of the reasons for the inability to secure it had been that, under the last Customs Act, the margin of .preference on British products had been widened unduly, and this caused irritation. This was surmise, but it was supported iby much sound information. The margin of preference was altogether too wide, and had a disastrous effect as far as trade with the United States was concerned. Once the difficulties were dissolved, and'it was believed they would ■be dissolved, there would be a great market for New Zealand. There was a growing feeling that the transfer of imports from Britain to Australia was having a disastrous effect on New Zealand trade relations with the United Kingdom, and might be one of the causes for the agitation in Britain for protection of the agriculturist. Manufacturers were supporting this because they were annoyed at loss of trade. If it was the case that imports from Australia were injuring trade with the United Kingdom business men would favour the Government taking action. Nothing must be done which would injure trade with Great Britain even at the expense of trade agreements with Australia. In reply Mr. Taylor said that he had been very impressed by the atmosphere in New Zealand, and was confident that he would not be let down. In Australia he would endeavour to promote faith in tlie tourist business. This, he considered, was one of the most effective ways of selling primary products. He touched on the duties of a trade commissioner, and said he would do everything possible to assist the importer and exporter in New Zealand. Mr. Firth said that the appointment of trade commissioners was a new departure where general representation overseas wrr concerned. He touched on the duties and work of a trade commissioner,

and said the main object was to put the buyer and seller in touch with, each other, and to safeguard their interests when they requested that they should be safeguarded. He said it was possible to develop and sell tourist attractions just as any other products. He would work with travel concerns in America, and having an office there would give New Zealand as good a chance to get into the market as that afforded to any other country.