E.E.C. ‘outward looking’

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33035, 30 September 1972, Page 18

E.E.C. ‘outward looking’

The European Common Market was an outward looking community and one which conducted 41 per cent of world trade, said the First Secretary of the British High Commission in Christchurch (Mr W. J. Rumble) in Christchurch last -night.

He told members of the Canterbury branch of the English Speaking Union that there was a common misapprehension that the enlarged Community would be an in-ward-looking bloc. In reality, he said, the Common Market’s trade with the United States had more than trebled in the last 12 years. Between 1960 and 1970

American exports to the Market had more than doubled. They rose faster than United States exports to the rest of the world. Despite the protectionist appearance of the Market, American agricultural exports there had increased two times and a half since 1968, said Mr Rumble.

“The enlarged Common Market will exercise enormous trading power — it will conduct 41 per cent of the world’s trade. The Commonwealth is not a substitute, as it is not prepared to give Britain the trading and other advantages it will enjoy in the E.E.C.,” he said. The Commonwealth no longer offered Britain the opportunities for the sophisticated exports by which it earned its wealth today.

In 1960, Britain supplied 20 per cent of the Commonwealth’s imports and manufactured goods, and in 1969 it supplied less than 15 per cent. Today, Europe was Britain’s most accessible and fastest-growing market, said Mr Rumble.

“In political terms, Britain wants to see Europe achieve unity, because this would enhance Europe’s influence on world affairs,” he said. Britain’s future well-being was inextricably bound up with Europe. But once in the Community, Britain would retain its Commonwealth links and alliances and its interests in overseas aid — which in the present financial year was £27om and this was to be increased annually by 71 per cent until 1976, he said.