N.Z. SEEKING MORE MEAT EXPORTS TO AMERICA

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31785, 16 September 1968, Page 26

N.Z. SEEKING MORE MEAT EXPORTS TO AMERICA

New Zealand is seeking to persuade the United States to increase the amount of meat, other than lamb and cooked and canned meat, which it will allow in from overseas.

This was said yesterday by a source close to the meat industry. It is hoped that the United States will considerably raise the level of permissible imports of these meats. New Zealand’s request is considered to be very reasonable, because the present \ limit of 1045 m lb of these > meats from all sources is an “infinitesimal” proportion of total consumption and consists primarily of meat for grinding, for use in such items as hamburgers, and is very little in competition with home-killed meat. However, 1' the delay in meat shipments to the United States lasts for only a month or two, it is thought that the meat now held could easily be taken up again in sailings in November or December or early in the new year. The course taken by New Zealand in the meantime in halting meat shipments, other than lamb, to the United States has been suggested by American interests. Both America and New Zealand wish to avoid exceeding the figure of 1045 m lb for im-

ports from all sources in the present year and this is what New Zealand interests are now trying to do. It is not thought that New Zealand exporters should run into trouble with United States purchasers for breach of contracts in being unable to supply, in that there is normally a force majeure

clause in contracts and these are likely to be made null and void by the intervention of an outside body in making it impossible for the meat to be supplied. It is understood that where it can be shown that firm contracts have been negotiated, every help will be given. “Firm sales” will, when possible, be put on board ships at present loading in New Zealand. But the total quantity of meat sailing will still be of such proportions that total imports into the United States this year, other than lamb, cooked and canned meat, will be under the quota figure. A few hundred tons of meat that would have gone on the Port Auckland, which is now loading, will be unloaded and this will presumably go by another vessel to help make a worth while load. The effect of the halt in meat shipments will mean that fbout eight to 12 ships will not be able to maintain their schedules for meat shipments, and a readjustment of shipping for the rest of the year will be necessary. Australia and New Zealand supply about 70 per cent of American imports in the categories affected by the 1045 m lb limit and Australia is collaborating in seeking to ensure that the figure is not exceeded. Steps are also being taken to secure the asI sistance of other exporters, l such as Ireland. In the circumstances it is not thought that New Zealand could have acted earlier to reduce exports to the United States to avoid a halt to shipments for arrival in the final quarter of this year. According to the source

quoted earlier, the exports of all countries have increased in a way that has not been predicted by the countries themselves or by the American Administration until the last few days. New Zealand has not been in a position to know what other exporters were doing.