Body to further trade pact

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32701, 2 September 1971, Page 1

Body to further trade pact

A permanent body to further the development of the New Zealand-Australia Free Trade Agreement is to be established by the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation and the Associated Chambers of Manufactures of Australia.

This was decided at the eighth joint meeting of the two groups in ChristI church yesterday.

The resolution setting up the new body says:

That the Associated Chambers of Manufactures of Australia and the New

Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation should jointly take the initiative in the further development of N.A.F.T.A., recognising that such development should be to the benefit of industries in both countries. That there be established immediately a permanent planning and consultative procedure between the two organisations. That each organisation set up a standing committee to plan and execute in-depth studies of aspects of N.A.F.T.A. and mutual co-operation. | These committees should promote programmmes of assistance and cooperation among members in such matters as rationalisation, replacement of imports from third countries, and mutual promotion of trade in third countries. i That the committees jointly i give urgent attention to the content qualification for domestic origin, possible inclusion in Schedule A of goods not produced in either country, the criteria for assessing the levels of temporary disability which might arise from rationalisation and would be acceptable to industry. That the committees be em-

powered to investigate other matters affecting' trans-Tasman trade. : Announcing the new steps, Mr L. H. Stevens, president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, and chairman of the day’s talks, said that Australia and New Zealand had much more in common than in conflict. “The talks today approached our national pro-: blems in a most constructive manner. The setting up of! consultative procedures of al continuing basis is a -most > important step forward—■ helping Australia and New; Zealand to offset some of the i more ominous developments] in international trade which] affect our two countries,” he; said. Help in work The president of the Associated Chambers of Manufactures of Australia (Mr H. N. Herford) said the establishmet of the new body would enable both organisations to plan and work together creatively, co-opera-tively and sympathetically. “It is our hope and our determination to develop trade between Australia and New Zealand at an even faster rate than before. This will help greatly in the task,” he said.

Today the organisations will meet Government trade

[officials from both countries to discuss matters of official co-operation in expanding N.A.F.T.A.