FRANCE EASES TARIFFS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28748, 20 November 1958, Page 15

FRANCE EASES TARIFFS

Move To Help O.E.E.C. (Rec. 10 p.m.) PARIS, Nov. 19. France has announced that she is to ease tariff restrictions on 20 per cent, of her imports from members of the organisation for European Economic Co-operation <O.E.E.C.) —from December 18, according to the British United Press. It is the first relaxation of French import policy for 18 months. Observers in Paris said the move was an indication that France is really anxious for better trade relations with all the other 16 members of the organisation. But there was ho direct move towards breaking the deadlock over the British proposals for a European Free Trade Zone—although there were indications that France is preparing to reopen negotiations, the agency said. French officials indicated that they were still trying to find some way of linking the six members of the “Little Europe" common market scheme—France. Italy, West Germany, and the Benelux countries—with the larger scheme. Representatives of the Swedish Government and Swedish commerce, industry and labour market organisations are to meet for talks on the free trade problem on Friday. Reuter quoted Moscow Radio as saying that Britain’s decision to suspend the European free trade talks was a move designed to seek favour with West Germany. The radio added: “Hitching themselves to the West German diplomatic band waggon, the leaders of the Foreign Office evidently forget that the Federal Republic is the only West European state that has not given up its territorial claims. “Therefore, sooner or later it can involve its unlucky Allies in dangerous adventures." Exiled Koala.— Cissie, believed to be the only koala bear in the world outside Australia, has died at San Diego zoo.—San Diego, California. November 19.