, 1922-04-29
British Tariff Notifications

THE BRITISH EMPIRE is everywhere erecting eco
L nomic defenses and Notifications in preparation
for the worldwide war for commercial supremacy
which is becoming more and mote evident.
A new customs tariff has just goEs into effect in
British India. The British government, not wishing
to take chances on India being flooded with impor-
tations pending the discussion of the tariff. put the
new rates into effect on March 1, 1929, the same
day the tariff was submitted to the legislative Assem-
bly, with a provision for a refund OF any duties paid
under any schedule where the proposed increases
failed to be ratified by the assembly. The new British
India tariff is characterized by sharp increases in all
rates. Articles not specifically mentioned are dutiable
at the flat rate of Is per cent. AS is true with every
British colony, all imports from any part of the British
Empire are given preferential rates over imports from
any other country.
A feature of the tariff is a provision corresponding
to the American valuation plan IN the new tariff now
before the United States congress. The Indian tariff
provides for duties assessed upon a wholesale cash
price of the imported articles or upon the arbitrary
home valuation OF imports fixed quarterly by the gov
eminent.
New Zealand, another British colony. has just put
into effect a new tariff which revises all duties up
ward and extends preferential rates to all products
originating in any part of the British Empire. The
free list which was rather extensive under the former
New Zealand tariff has been practically wiped out
insofar as goods imported from foreign countries are
concerned. There is still an extensive free list of
goods from other portions of the British Empire. Like
the British Indian tariff, the New Zealand tariff act
contains a provision against dumping of foreign prod
ucts and also a provision which corresponds to the
American valuation clause of the tariff now before
the United States senate. The New Zealand valuation
clause specifies that against imports from countries
with deprecated currency there shall be levied extra
duties which shall increase in a degree corresponding
with the degree of depreciation of shc currency of the
country from which the goods are imported.
The action of these two British colonies is consistent
with the action of the home country. The English
parliament enacted a tariff law which went into effect
October first, last, and which is officially known as
the. Safeguarding of Industries Bill" This act i'm
poses high protective duties upon over 5000 commod-
tiles produced by basic or key industries. This
tariff also provides for a system of home valuation of
imports from countries having deprecated currencies
so that such countries may not evade the tariff by
valuing their goods so low that when the duty is
added it win be Inadequate for protective measures.
In common with all tariff laws in effect throughout
the British Empire, this tariff discriminates in favor
of imports from all other portions CT the empire as
against imports from other countries.
England is additionally a free trade country but it
has not been SO economically unwise as to maintain
its reputation for consistency at the expense of its
industries and commerce The empire has been quick
to recognize the oncoming contest for world markets
and has taken steps to protect not only the home
country; but has been active in inducing all British
their territory from a flood of cheaply made foreign
goods that would prove ruinous to their local indus
tries and commerce.
England and her colonies long since adopted the
policy of discriminatory duties against imports from
foreign countries as against imports originating from
other parts of the empire. Canada began to extend
preferential tariff rates to imports originating in the
United Kingdom as early as 1898; New Zealand began
extending preferential rates to imports from any point
in the British Empire in 1908; South Africa adopted
the same policy in 1903; and Australia in 1907.
Other British colonies of lesser Importance have long
important part of the British Empire to put into effect
tariff with preferential rates for imports
originating either m the United Kingdom or in British
territory.