Imperial Valley press., 1944-02-09
Canada Readies
Trade Drive
In Latin Areas

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 9. UP)--
Canada, which will emerge from
World War II a heavily industrial
ized country with a first-rate mer-
chant marine, is already paving the
way to move into the lucrative post
war Latin american markets.
Operating through eight trade
commissions and three legations
scattered strategically in Central
and South America, Canada is keep
ing her contacts warm and a token
trade flowing, biding her time until
the war is over and wsr factories
can be retooled for peacetime goods
With legations already in Argen-
tina, Brazil and Chile, Canada re-
Gently announced additional ones
for Mexico, Cuba and Colombia
According to information here, the
new legations have not been set up
yet because there are no qualified
Canadians available to run them
Men ordinarily qualified are in jobs
indispensable to Canada's war
effort.
TRADE GROUPS
The trade commissions, some OF
which are SO years old, vanguard
Canada's Latin American campaign
Typical of them is the one in Mex
leo, headed by c. S. Bissett.
Bissett's office is "middle-man'
between Mexican businessmen ano
Canadian buyers and sellers, and il
also handles Canadian relation;
with the Mexican press.
According to Bissett, Mexico's ex-
ports to Canada have tripled in
the last three years, although the
flow of Canadian products souti,
has remained static-around S. 600,
900 worth of goods year.
In 1943, MeXico's exports to Can
ada exceeded $5,000,000, which is
the first time since the war that
Canadian-Mexican trade has bal
anced in favor of Mexico. In 194l
Mexico received twice as much from
Canada as she returned, and in
1912, about tWo-thirds.
MAIN ITEMS
The big items that go to Canada
from Mexico are metal ores, and
fresh fruits and vegetables. Mexico
has partially replaced the West
Indies as source of "off-seaSon'
produce, said Bissett. Mexico also
exports rice and peanuts, silver
ware and Mexican novelties.
Canada sends large quantities o.
newsprint and wood pulp to Mex
leo, as we'll as agricultural machin-
cry and supplies. All Mexico-Can-
ada shipments move by rail through
the United States, which allocates
freight space to the two countries
After the war;" Bissett said
Canada expects to be able to COM
pete in any part of Latin America
on full equality with any nation
He said Canada had undergone
tremendous" industrial develop.
ment, and will he able to manufac
ture for export a larger variety of
goods than before the war.
BUILDING PROGRAM
He said Canada had built 300
10,000-ton freighters in the last
four years, and will have built 400
by wars end. Many of the ships are
lend-leased, but will return to Can
adian possession with the armis-
tice. They will form the nucleus
for a shipping fleet to carry Can
adian products to every part of the
world. He emphasized that post
war shipping in Canada will be in
private hands, although the gov
ernment will continue to subsidize
shipping, probably through mail
contracts.
Bissett said French Canadians
will play an important role in Can
adas expansion into Latin Ameri-
ca, because by culture and religion,
both extremely important assets,
they are more akin to Latin Amer
leans than either Americans or
English Canadians.
A group of l6 French Canadian
students recently arrived in Mexico
for three months of study in the
national university, and they will
be followed by other groups, which
is part of Canada'S ground-layln3
for her postwar penetration"
BOND-SELLING WAITER