Trade alliance in Pacific supported

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32587, 22 April 1971, Page 26

Trade alliance in Pacific supported

(N.Z.PA.-Reuter—Copyright) ADELAIDE, April 20. Selfish trade policies of the European Common Market might necessitate the formation of a Pacific trade alliance embodying Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada and Japan, the former Australian Minister of Defence (Mr Malcolm Fraser) said last evening.

The trade alliance would especially be needed if Britain joined the Common Market, Mr Fraser, now a back-; bencher in Parliament, ■ told the Adelaide Police Club.

Mr Fraser’s resignation as Defence Minister last month initiated a series of events which led to the election of Mr William McMahon to the Prime Ministership. He said the attitude so far shown by the E.E.C. could give Australians no cause for confidence in its developing a constructive and outwardlooking approach to the problems of world trade. “Australia’s first interest will be to see the E.E.C. becomes outward-looking in its trade activities,” Mr Fraser said.

"If that fails and especially if the community is enlarged by membership of the United Kingdom and possibly other countries—then; Japan and Australia with l other non-members would; have to look to see what; arrangements they could, or ought to make, to safeguard their own trading interests.” The trade alliance should specifically help in the development of South-East Asian countries.

The foundations for a Pacific trade alliance which could be necessary to counter selfish trade policies by the European Economic Com-

i triunity, had already been i laid, the Director-General of the Pacific Basin Economic 'Co-operation Council (Mr R. iW. C. Anderson) said today. Commenting on the statement by Mr Fraser, Mr Anderson said that any E.E.C. activities and policies detrimental to the economic welfare of the Pacific basin nations would be examined by the council. Council members’ governments would not lack for advice on how to counter any selfish trade policies by the E.E.C., especially if Britain joined the E.E.C. Mr Anderson said that the fourth general meeting of the council would be held in Vancouver early next month.