A. NEW YEAR: TRADE RESOLUTION . 'To the Editor-of the
SPECTATOR.] Sin,--L,British Industry's New Year resolution might well be-to miss no opportunity in future of increasing overseas trade. Germany has forestalled us effectively in Russia, and whilewe are arguing about whether we should trade with Russia ornat --even Conservatives are. beginning to discuss this quite dispassionately—we are- in danger • of letting Germany get ahead'of us in another Market in Eastern Edrope—IRtimania.. '
It is stated 'that in- a financial agreement just concluded, Germany, no doubt influenced by the immense possibilities of trade with that country;-has given very favourable terms to- Rumania, and her business • men will - certainly lose no time in re-entrenching themselves against -us in Rumanian trade and as securely as before the War:. •
Rumania's chief needs, expressed in an approximate per tentage of her- total imports, arc
Cotton and cotton' goods 29 Metalsand metal manufactures . . : .20 Machinery -- - - • • • • • 7 _ Wool, hair and manufactures thereof 7
Ready-inede clothes . . . . . . . . . . 4
These are some of the very products. we want to sell most, and the market, with Rumania progressing as she is, is one which will expand tremendously in the future. Rumania was our ally in the War, and there is plenty of good will in both countries upon which to build extended economic relations. But we must be quick or Germany will be supplying many of the things that' we could sell and we shall be left arguing about Whether Rumanians are nice people to trade with or not.—I
Previous page
