JAPANESE THREAT Britain Fighting To Retain Aust. Market

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30540, 8 September 1964, Page 15

JAPANESE THREAT Britain Fighting To Retain Aust. Market

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

SYDNEY, September 7.

The battle between Japan and Britain for the Australian market is expected to intensify with the inaugural meeting in Sydney on September 22 and 23 of the British-Australia Action Council. The council will meet less than three weeks after the Australia-Japan Business Co-operation Committee met for the first time in Australia.

Discussion of the Japanese trade talks is not listed on the council agenda but private trade officials said today they had no doubt the issue would be raised.

One task of the British delegates will be to ensure that there is no lessening of Australian buying from Britain as a result of increased foreign wooing, particularly from Japan.

The council meeting was planned some time ago to coincide with the British exhibition.

Trade officials believe the British will not be reluctant to

caution Australian importers to think twice before considering cutting their trade with traditional sources. It is believed they will, if necessary, remind them that although Japan is a major partner in Australia’s trading system, Japanese investment of skill and capital in Australia so far is negligible compared with Britain’s the officials say.