Italians Meet Problem

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32118, 14 October 1969, Page 1

Italians Meet Problem

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 13. An Italian trade mission, in New Zealand to promote exports of traditional Italian products—ceramics, leather goods, toys and musical instruments is finding that it has to push through a wall of restrictions. Three officials with the mission in Auckland today were critical of New Zealand import restriction policies. They are Dr C. Garzia, of the

Italian Foreign Trade Ministry, and Dr D. Corrado and Dr M. Marini, both of the Italian Foreign Trade Institute. . With them are 11 representatives of Italian manufacturers. Dr Corrado said that their aim was to strengthen the value of Italian exports to New Zealand and so tip the imbalance of trade between the two countries a little more in Italy’s favour. At present, he said, New Zealand imported from Italy goods worth only a little more than a third of the value of its exports to Italy. “We feel we certainly have the products to even out this imbalance, but we are finding your import regulations restrictive. .1 The mission hoped to bring

the range and quality of Italian goods before the New Zealand eye. Italy was the seventh hugest industrial producer in the world. It occupied fourth place on the ladder of manufacturers of electronic musical instruments, fifth place with toys and was famous in most countries for its ceramics and leather goods. “We are successful iu exporting many of these products but not, so far, to New Zealand,” Dr Corrado said. He added that Italy had completely free trade and was used to dealing with freetrade nations. But he hoped the mission would be able to succeed in spite of protectionism. The mission will go to Wellington on Wednesday before returning to Italy.