Gilbert-Ellice Islands
p. 64 · Read in the full issue
New Tariff with Australia
THE benefit of the British preferential tariff on a limited range of goods has been accorded by Australia to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony, with which an exchange of preferences has been ar ranged in accordance with the terms of the United Kingdom and Australia trade agreement. In return for the preferences accorded by Australia the colony has granted Australia and other parts of the Empire preferences extending over prac tically the whole range of the colony’s tariff. .
The items of particular interest to Aus tralia and the margin of tariff preference are as follow; Flour, 124 per cent.; foodstuffs, 12½ per cent.; fresh or canned fruits, 12½ per cent.: iron, 30/- a ton; tinned milk, 12½ per cent.; rice, 12½ per cent.; soap, 12½ per cent.; spirits, 13/- a gallon: sugar, 12½ per cent.; timber, from 1/6 to 2/- a 100 super feet: wines, from 2/- to 13/- a gallon.
Australia’s exports to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony amount in value to about £90,000 annually. Imports from the group are valued at £150,000, con sisting mainly of phosphate rock and copra.