Geneva Talks On Sugar Prices

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31225, 24 November 1966, Page 17

Geneva Talks On Sugar Prices

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) GENEVA, Nov. 23. At private talks in Geneva held by sugar-produc-ing and consuming countries, Cuba did not appear very interested in negotiating a proposed international agreement to stabilise sugar prices. The Cuban Government is expecting a record sugar crop. But Cuba was not the only country showing reluctance when it came down to brass tacks, observers said. Some other delegations from the 22 participating countries, while in principle! favouring a new sugar pact, were reserved in discussing details of such elements as quotas, price support range and access to consumer markets. Importing countries were believed to have rejected an idea to freeze their domestic ■production so that exporters I could be allowed to meet any I increase in their consumpItion. i Instead, the importers

seemed to prefer to let their domestic producers and the exporters share equally in supplying any increased demand.

If enough progress is made during the week of the experts’ talks, held under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, a United Nations conference will be convened to resume full negotiations. An earlier 67-nation United Nations conference broke up jin Geneva more than a year ago in deadlock over a 73article draft prepared by the International Sugar Council to replace the twice-extended 1958 pact