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VI.—SUMMARY The conclusions of the Conference may be summarized as follows: — («) Resolutions and Statements Regarding the Promotion of Trade within the Commonwealth With regard to the determination of the percentage of Empire Content necessary to secure preferential tariff treatment, the Conference draws the attention of the several Governments of the Commonwealth to the importance of this subject, and recommends that each of the Governments of the Commonwealth should investigate, as rapidly as possible, the standard of Empire Content which should be required by them for the import under preferential rates of the different classes of goods, bearing in mind the following principles: (а) That though it must rest with each Government to decide what standard it will require, a greater degree of uniformity throughout the Commonwealth is desirable; (б) The standard required should not be such as to defeat or frustrate the intention of the preferential rate of duty conceded to any class of goods. With regard to the question of export bounties and anti-dumping duties within the Commonwealth, the Conference adopted the following resolution: This Conference, recognizing that export bounties and exchange depreciation adversely affect the value of tariff preferences within the Commonwealth, expresses the hope that with a rise in the level of commodity prices and with stabilized exchanges such bounties and the special duties which have been adopted as a means of adjusting the situation so created, may be withdrawn. With regard to the conclusion of certain Agreements for the extension of mutual trade by means of reciprocal preferential tariffs, the Conference adopted the following resolution: The nations of the British Commonwealth having entered into certain Agreements with one another for the extension of mutual trade by means of reciprocal preferential tariffs, this Conference takes note of these Agreements and records its conviction: That by the lowering or removal of barriers among themselves provided for in these Agreements the flow of trade between the various countries of the Empire will be facilitated, and that by the consequent increase of purchasing power of their peoples the trade of the world will also be stimulated and increased; Further, that this Conference regards the conclusion of these Agreements as a step forward which should in the future lead to further progress in the same direction and which will utilize protective duties to ensure that the resources and industries of the Empire are developed on sound economic lines. The Agreements referred to are annexed hereto and the Conference commends them to the Governments of the several parts of the Empire. (6) Resolutions Regarding Customs Administration The Conference recommends that the aims to be kept in view should be: (i) The avoidance of uncertainty as to the amount of duty which would be payable on the arrival of goods in the importing country; (ii) The reduction of friction and delay to a minimum; (iii) The provision of facilities for the expeditious and effective settlement of disputes relating to all matters affecting the application of the Customs Tariff; and that any measures which Customs Administrations might take to safeguard themselves against evasion should be consistent with these principles.