Soviet Calls For Trade Conference

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29932, 20 September 1962, Page 13

Soviet Calls For Trade Conference

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter— Copyright)

NEW YORK, September 19.

The Soviet Union called for an international trade conference yesterday and attacked the “discriminatory and restrictive” effects of the European Common Market.

The Soviet Foreign Minister (Mr Andrei Gromyko) said in an explanatory memorandum in the United Nations that “the task of restoring international trade to normal” was assuming increasing importance for all states, especially the underdeveloped countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Unfortunately, he said, at a time when world-wide economic co-operation was required. increasing use was being made of various forms of trade discrimination, including tariffs and quota restrictions.

“The appearance of such closed groupings as the Common Market in Europe, far from helping to normalise the situation, is extending and intensifying the use of discriminatory measures and restric-

tions in international trade,” Mr Gromyko said. This was causing "justified concern for the future in many countries.

“The gulf between the economic development of the under-developed and the industrially highly-developed countries is not only failing to be bridged, but is growing with every year,” Mr Gromyko said. The main task of the proposed trade conference would be “to set up a standing international trade organisation, embracing all regions and countries of the world without any discrimination whatever.” The memorandum said that at least 60 countries had openly declared themselves in favour of convening such a conference, which was also backed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council.