Guarded On E.E. C. Hint

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30919, 27 November 1965, Page 15

Guarded On E.E. C. Hint

(N.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 26.

New Zealand and Australian trade experts in Europe, together with the British Government, are adopting a “wait and see” attitude to General Charles de Gaulle’s latest hint that Britain would find an easier path into the European Common Market.

New Zealand and Australian officials have emphasised that the view of their two countries on British membership of the trade bloc had not changed in the two years since France vetoed the previous British bid. The share of Australia’s exports sent to Britain had

been dropping since the British bid for Common Market membership was first mooted.

Of £A1364 million worth of exports sold by Australia in 1963-64, £A253 million went to Britain. 70 Per Cent Affected

About 70 per cent of those goods sold to Britain would be affected if Britain joined the Common Market and went behind the market’s tariff walls.

The percentages were believed to have fallen since 1963 as Australia diversified her markets, but the amount of trade at risk to a Common Market entry by Britain remained large and valuable. Australia was ready to argue along the same lines as she did in 1963 and before, that Britain had a historic and moral duty to take due regard to trading practices between Britain and the Commonwealth. New Zealand, with its reliance on selling butter and meat to Britain had not been able to spread the load even to the same extent Australia had been able to do, and its opposition to Britain in the market remained unaltered. About 40 per cent of New Zealand’s total trade—9s per cent of its dairy exports—went to Britain compared with Australia’s 19 per cent. Major Threat

For Britain to erect tariffs against New Zealand goods remained a major threat to the New Zealand economy, officials said.

General de Gaulle's change in attitude followed the visit this week to France of the leader of the Conservative Party, Mr Edward Heath. His guarded comment seemed to be based on the

premise that the Conservatives would be returned to power in the not-too-distant future.