PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS No. 111
QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS
( Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade,
Mr. J. McEwen.)
The Minister for Trade, Mr. McEwen, said today that
the Government had no intention whatever of re-introducing
import licensing as previously understood. The Prime Minister
had intimated that in respect of a quite restricted category
of Australian manufactures it appeared that an element of
quantitative restrictions could be a most useful addition to
other tariff protection.
Mr. McEwen denied that he would detail rigid quotas
on a number of imported items within the next few days.
He was referring to certain published reports of what
he described as of a purely speculative character, that there
would be the imposition of quantitative restrictions on about
items. Mr. McEwen said there was no intention of substituting
a widespread system of import licensing for the temporary tariff
system. He added that he would make a statement within the
next few days in further explanation of the Prime Minister's
announcement that the Government intended establishing a
Special Adviscry Authority. Mr. McEwen stated that the
Governm~ nt's policy in this regard was designed to operate
within the framework of the Tariff Board but in such a manner
as tc -armit decisions being quickly reached and quickly applied.
Canberra, 7th February, 1962. 15/ 62 T