FOREIGN TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1932, Page 5

FOREIGN TRADE

OTTAWA REPORT-

DOMINION AND RUSSIA.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) OTTAWA, August 17. The official spokesman announced /that the committee on commercial re- ’ Nations with foreign countries, had concluded its work, and accepted the sub-committee’s report the main feature of which is the expression of view that the most favoured nation clauses in British treaties with foreign countrie, have no bearing on Empire agreements reached at Ottawa. The report also expresses the desirability of all parts of the Empire taking steps necessary to safeguard Ottawa agreements. The idea is to maintain the status quo. The spokesman informed an American correspondent that the United States holdi a similar view in . relation to her agreement with Cuba, not permitting foreign nations, with whom she has trentios, to obtain the benefits of the American-Cuban Agreement. The report of the committee, of commercial relations with Foreign

Powers, issued to-night, states that representatives of the Empire Governi mcnt declared it is their policy that- , no future treaty obligations should be allowed to interfere with mutual preferences which Empire Governments might decide to accord each other, and that' they would free- themselves from any existing favoured nation treaties which might so interfere. They would in fact. take , all steps necessary to implement and safeguard the preference granted. Regarding tendencies of foreign countries to conclude regional agreements for mutual preferences, there was general agreement that foreign countries having existed treaty obligations to grant favoured nation treatment to products of particular parts of Empire, could not be allowed to override such obligations by regional agreements. ■. \■ Regarding the Russian quest’on, the spokesman said: I think there is a v?'ry urgent effort being made on all sides to work out a; formula whereby a fair deal will be given the Dominions in their competition— with Russia. There is not -'yet any absolutely definite result, but, the , delegates'are hope- - fill that a. J satisfactory: agreement will he reached.. n • Particular reference' was made to the Banubian' States regarding preferential treatment. The Cereal Exports Committee- was informed that at Lausanne, the rights, of: third countries had been expressly fcrewir.v'ed >'Bt" "Britain’s inStance. The committee recognised thpt favoured nation rights would preclude a foreign country seeking the consent of the Empire Governments°to waiving the rights in particular oases. These Governments must be guided by individual interests, deciding’;Whether to meet the foreign country’s ■'wishes, so Jong, however, as the general principle that rights :of this kind' cannot abritrarilv be withdrawn?- is fully and carefully preserved. The committee recommensd that where two Empire Governments share common interests in any treaty-waiving ..proposal, they should consult together, with a view to arriving at a common policy. The Committee on the Promotion, of Empire Trade received a report on Empire content. This is one of the .subjects unlikely to be settled definitely at Ottawa The Anglo-Canadian delegations again conferred, assisted by Mr Leenal, member of th© Clabadian Cabinet. The Conference accepted the following report from the committee on customs administration: It was agreed regarding customs administration that the aims to he kept in view should be (first) the avoidance of uncertainty regarding the amount of duty payable on arrival of good? in importing countries; (second), reduction of friction and delay tp a minimum; (third) provision of facilities for the expeditious and effective settlement of disputes relating to all matters affecting application of the customs tariff. \ It was also agreed that any measurete which the customs administration might take. to safeguard themselves against evasion should be consistent with these principles-