Trade Talks Had Mixed Results

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30919, 27 November 1965, Page 16

Trade Talks Had Mixed Results

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, November 26. The Secretary of Industries and Commerce (Mr M. J. Moriarty) today brought good and bad news from trade negotiations in London and Geneva.

The good news is that New Zealand will be able at least to begin negotiations for continued duty-free agreements with Britain for the entry of New Zealand meat and dairy produce. The bad news is that there seems little hope for a general lowering of barriers to New Zealand produce through the Kennedy Round of trade talks.

“Other countries never even got to the table to negotiate,” Mr Moriarty said of the progress made so far in talks with Britain. ‘These negotiations will be hard, but at least we can begin them.”

Negotiations will be either before or after the next Kennedy Round talks in March or April. The final talks at ministerial level will come later, depending on the length and nature of the official talks.

Only New Zealand and Australia were interesting in a lowering of barriers to trade in agricultural produce in the Kennedy Round talks. Mr Moriarty is afraid that the only result will be a reduction in tariffs for industrial goods and cereals, because of American interest.

“If this is so, we will be back to the position that has existed for the last 18 years, namely, negotiating with individual countries on a bilateral basis,” said Mr Moriarty.

Arrested.—A man was arrested in New Brighton last evening on a charge of stealing property valued at £34 from a parked car. He will appear in the Magistrate's Court today.