Hard Bargaining Likely At London Trade Talks

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 13

Hard Bargaining Likely At London Trade Talks

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. Feb. 13.

“One can be sure there will be some hard bargaining at the Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ meeting,” said Mr J. W. Rowe, research director, Bankers’ Association, in a statement today. “Whether anything very satisfactory for New Zealand will emerge is a different matter.

"The essential problem so far as dairy products are concerned is one of high production by Great Britain. Australia and some European countries, resulting from subsidies and artificially high retail prices, and low consumption due to the determination of E.E.C. countries to restrict imports in the interests of their own farmers. “The British farm subsidy policy is the main threat, and

Mr Macmillan’s hint that these subsidies may be reviewed is, therefore, welcome. “His statement that trade with Commonwealth countries must be extended is, of course, also welcome. But we may ask: 'at what price?’ Because if E.E.C. and other non-Commonwealth countries are allowed to dump on the British market we shall be no better off.”