Talks held on meat levies

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32458, 19 November 1970, Page 3

Talks held on meat levies

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 18. Britain’s special negotiator to the Common Market (Mr Rippon) said yesterday that Britain had begun consultations with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand on the proposed levies on imported food. He said that multilateral i talks were being held on the British proposals. “One of our'objects is to minimise the disturbance to trade,” Mr Rippon said in i Parliament, in answer to a ' question from a Labour mem- I ber of Parliament. “We intend to achieve this object through consultations and negotiations.” i The Minister of State ■ at i the Foreign Office (Mr Joseph , Godber) opened a meeting at the Foreign and Common wealth office in London yes- i terday to discuss a proposed interim levy scheme for beef i and veal. , In his opening statement, 1 Mr Godber restated the British Government’s firm intention to change the system of; agricultural support from one

In which the cost falls on the Exchequer to one in which it falls on the market. During the meeting a full ’ explanation of the interim I levy scheme was given and there was a useful discussion of proposals. The following countries ' were represented at the meet- ■ ing: Australia', Brazil, Ireland, , New Zealand, South Africa. Uruguay and Jugoslavia; an E.E.C. representative was also present. Commenting on the statement, the New Zealand Secretary for Industries and Com-; > merce (Mr M. J. Moriarty), j who led the New Zealand i delegation, said that the New! Zealand team had expressed strong doubts that the scheme could operate without some harmful effects on New Zealand exports of beef and veal to the British market. He pointed out some aspects where he believed that the new scheme, intended to come into operation on April 1, 1971, might be improved. British officials undertook to examine these points. The Deputy. Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) will also be discussing possible effects of the new levy system for beef and veasl, as well as the New Zealand lamb trade, when he meets British Ministers in London next week. !