The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-09
CANADA PLANS
 TRADE DRIVE IN
 LATIN AMERICA
By ROB ROY BUCKINGHAM

By ROB ROY BUCKINGHAM United Press Stan COrrespOndent)
 Mexico City. Feb. 9-(UP)-Can- ada, which will emerge from World War IT heavily irduStrialized country with f1rst-rate merchant marine, is already paving the way to move into the lucrative postwar Latin-American markets.
 Operating through eight trade commissions and three legations, scattered Strategically in Central and South America, Canada is keeping her contacts warm and a token trade flowing, biding her time until the war is over and war fac- tories can be retooled for peace time goods.
 With legations already in Argen- tina, Brazil and Chile, Canada re- centiy 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.
 The trade commissions, some of which are 50 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 8 "middle-man between Mexican businessmen and Canadian buyers and sellers, and 1t also handles Canadian relations with the Mexican presses.
 According to Bisset, Mexico'S exports to Canada have tripled in the last three years, although the flow of Canadian products south has remained static-around $5,- GOO. 900 worth of goods year.
 In 1943, Mexico's exports to Can- ada exceeded $5,O00,00c. which is the first time since the war that Standardization trade has bal- anced in favor of Mexico. In 1941, Mexico received twice as much from Canada as she returned, and in 1942, about two-thirdS.
 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 a source of off-season" produce, said Bisset. Mexico also exports rice and peanuts, silver ware and Mexican novelties. Canada sends large quantities of newsprint and wood pulp to Mex ico, as well as agricultural machin- cry and supplies. All Mexico Canada shipments move by rail through the United States, which allocates freight space to the two countries.
 After the war;" Bisset 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 be able to manu- facture for export a larger variety of goods than before the war.
 He said Canada had built 300 10,000-ton freighters in the last four years, and will have built 40C by wars end. Many of the ships are lend-leased, but will return tc Canadian possession with the armis- tice. They will form the nucleus for shipping fleet to carry Cana. dian products to every part of the world. He emphasized that post. war shipping in Canada will be in private hands, although the govern ment will continue to subsidize shipping, probably through mail contracts.
 Bissett said French Canadians will play an important role in Can ada's expansion into Latin-A Amer lea, because by culture and religion, both extremely important assets, they are more akin to Latin Amer jeans than either Americans or English Canadians.
 A group of 16 French Canadian students recently arrived in Mex ico for three months of study in the national university, and they will be followed by other groups, which is part of Canada's nd-laying for her postwar penetration"