INTER-EMPIRE TRADE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXV, Issue 8920, 26 May 1936, Page 4

INTER-EMPIRE TRADE

OTTAWA AGREEMENTS WITH DOMINIONS BRITISH COMMERCIAL VIEW The actual effects of the Ottawa Agreements and the future developments of trade relations between the United Kingdom and the Dominions form the subject of a special report just issued by a special committee of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce. The committee lias considered the working of the agreements .and constructive proposals for machinery to increase British tradd with the Dominions to mutual advantage. The report expresses the view that the underlying principle of economic co-operation between different parts of the Empire, which was accepted at Ottawa, should receive wholehearted support, and that the policy inaugurated by the agreements should be extended and improved with provision for consultation between the Governments concerned for initiating whenever possible a movement towards a general reduction in world tariffs and the removal of restrictions and barriers to international trade. In spite of the increases in exports of United Kingdom goods to the Dominions since Ottawa, it is the committee’s view that some important trades have not benefited, and it is particularly recommended that the Government should reserve the right, in any revision, to impose duties or quotas on the productions of a Dominion if necessary for the safeguarding of a United Kingdom industry, provided preference is given to any Dominion giving reciprocal advantages. .The committee's general views on the coiiolusion of new agreements may be summarised as a belief that approvement in the machinery slioula b,c .sought without a' conference on the lilies of Ottawa, and that tile proper course -is to .overlay the existing agreements with bilateral agreements with each Ddminidm > “In these,” states the report, “wo shouhj pp logger rely upon vague general priueipjp, 5 but obtain engage-, meats to charge a speejjlp duty oil; certain goods./'’ ' The committee emphasises .that all (ImVUSSIOiiH >yjJh the .Dominions should seek JJieJr ItlfliH. object an increased all-round interchange of goods.