LATIN AMERICA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 January 1942, Page 4

LATIN AMERICA

SUSPENSION OF TRADE BARRIERS MAXIMUM WAR PRODUCTION. AGREEMENT AT RIO DE JANIERO CONFERENCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, January 25. The United States has concluded agreements with 16 Latin Anierican republics calling for a mutual suspension of tariff and other trade barriers, in a sweeping move designed to assure the maximum war production. The agreements were negotiated at the Rio de Janeiro conference.

Only four nations —Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Brazil —have not yet signed, but Brazil and Chile are expected to do so at any moment. The pacts closely follow the pattern of that signed by the United States and Canada last month. They provide for unstinted use of resources on a co-oper-ative basis to assure the security of all the signatory Powers, each nation to concentrate on the production of materials and services for whiteh their economies are best suited. All tariffs, import duties and customs are to be suspended for the duration of the war.

It is reported from Mexico City that the Government has detailed special' communication inspectors to trace secret radio stations which are operating for’ A.xis shipping.