COMMERCE CONGRESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 711, 10 July 1929, Page 9

COMMERCE CONGRESS

38 NATIONS REPRESENTED AT AMSTERDAM UNITED STATES TARIFF (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) AMSTERDAM, Tuesday. A Congress of the International Chamber of Commerce was opened today at Amsterdam. It was attended by 1,200 delegates from 38 countries. The president, Mr. Alberto Pirelli (Italy), appealed to the Governments to ratify the 1928 convention for the abolition of restrictions on imports and exports. Referring to the tariff policy of the United States, the president said America had more to gain from the development of Europe—which took half -the exports from the United States —than she had to fear from increased European competition in the world’s market. The transport and communications group passed a resolution recommending the universal adoption of the Hague rules govening bills of lading. M. Frechin (France) advocated the abolition of flag discrimination and customs formalities. He said these obstacles often drove off trade altogether. Sir Alan G. Anderson, vice-president (Britain), said Portugal and Peru had been mentioned as having been especially vexatious for port dues. Personally, he wondered why those who advocated such stringent protection did not follow the policy to its natural conclusion and allow their ports to silt up entirely. That would prevent foreign competition altogether.