‘Access Now Assured’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30369, 19 February 1964, Page 18

‘Access Now Assured’

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. “This agreement gives us a most satisfactory assurance of market access to the United States for beef and veal,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) today, commenting on the agreement between New Zealand and the United States.

He said that the discussions leading to the agreement followed protests by United States cattle interests and requests for control of the growing volume of imports,which it was claimed, were responsible for the decline in beef prices in the United States and a threat to the domestic cattle industry. As a result, the United States Government sought discussions -with the major suppliers of imported beef and veal with a view to obtaining their agreement to a system of voluntary restraints on imports “The New Zealand Government was surprised that such a proposal should have been made at a time when the United States Government. with strong New Zealand support, was pressing for freer access for agricultural exnorts in the context of the forthcoming Kennedy round of trade negotiations;” said Mr Hblyoake. “However, as I stated earlier iii the year. when, the United States Government first approached us. we were prepared to sit down and discuss any problems with them. As a result I am happy

to say that a satisfactory agreement has now been reached which guarantees New Zealand continued access to the United States market with provision for a steady growth jn the quantity exported each year from New Zealand. “I should make it clear that the agreement deals only with imports of beef and veal,” said the Prime Minister.

“We have assurances that New Zealand will not be adversely affected in relation to other suppliers. Indeed, the United States Government is engaged in discussions with a view to entering into similar arrangements with other significant supnliers. “The United States has also undertaken to continue to take an active and leading role in negotiating arrangements leading to expanding access in meat importing. countries, in harmony with the objectives agreed . at the ministerial meeting of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in May. 1963, which Mr Marshall attended. ’ “Although no agreement cbuld be reached on a reduction of the tariff on beef and veal exported to the United States, the New Zealand Government exnressed the hope that in the G.A.T.T

Kennedy round negotiations the current United States tariff would be reduced. “The agreement is accompanied by a supplementary exchange of notes which makes it clear that all New Zealand meat exporters will be treated on an equal basis in the matter of the right to export beef and veal to the United States within the total level of: exports provided for in the agreement.”