GERMAN TARIFF.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20498, 17 March 1932, Page 11

GERMAN TARIFF.

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER FAVOURED. VALUE OF TRADE TREATY. (united pnras association —by electbiq TELEOBAI'K—COPYRIGHT.) LONDON, March 15. Tho now German tarifE move is doscribed by well-informed people as getting in first, in readiness for the Ottawa Conference. It is believed tho probable upshot of the Australian negotiations will bo a German undertaking to hold the super-duties in abeyance tor six months, on the assurance that a trade agreement similar to Great Britain's shall bo made within that period.

Tho Australian Press Association learns that Now Zealand in February was able to do a good trado in buttdr in Germany, thanks to being a mosti'avourcd nation. Germany, under a recent treaty, agreed to admit 5000 tons of Finnish butter yearly at half duty, namely 50 marks a 100 kilos. New Zoalnnd successfully claimed equal treatment for a similar quantity, with tho result that her butter was admitted at a duty of 50 marks, plus a percentage added previously for tho depreciation in sterling.

Duty on Australian Butter. Australia's butter, on the contrary, was subject to a duty of 140 marks, plus tho sterling depreciation percentage, making trade impossible. New Zealand's favoured treatment was due to her adoption of the Anglo-German Trade Treaty in 1924.

"Thore does not seem to bo the slightest chance of Germany modifying her butter duties," an Australian Dairy Council officer told a "SunHerald" correspondent. "On the contrary, Germany seems to bo resolved to stiffen the duties, It was thought that the Danes would bo allowed to send any amount of butter to Germany until the quota of 5000 tons was exhausted, but tho supplementary regulations limited tho import of Danish butter to 500 tons a month.

"Danish quotations on London have dropped 45s since February 12th. Australian butter has remained firm, because ifc had not soared to the Danish heights. But nobody can predict the course of tho market if barriers to international trade continue to bo raised." Tho Australian Press Association understands that, arising out of the apple duty, tho Commonwealth. is negotiating for a trade treaty with Germany, who prefers most-favoured nation treatment, whereby apples ex. empt from tho super-tariff would be on the siinio footing as the New Zealand product. '

SUPER-TAX AGAINST CANADA. BERLIN, March 15. The German Government announced to-day that tho new super-tax will be enforced against Canada, not against Australia.