E.E.C. assurances on N.Z. imports

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33384, 16 November 1973, Page 3

E.E.C. assurances on N.Z. imports

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) STRASBOURG, November 15. fhe Common Market Agriculture Commissioner (Mr Pierre Lardinois) has given an assurance that proposals for reforming E.E.C. agriculture would not affect imports from countries outside the E.E.C.

Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, he emphasised in particular that New Zealand’s exports to the Community would not be affected by a proposed new E.E.C. regulation for sheepmeat, or by efforts to reduce the E.E.C. dairy surplus.

I Mr Lardinois was replying to a question by a British Conservative, Sir Tufton Beamish, who sought an assurance that the Community i would continue to respect its i commitment to New Zealand [given during Britain’s E.E.C. (entry negotiations. The Commissioner said that although the Community sought to stimulate its own production in the protein sector, it had decided, for the: sake of relations with outside [ countries, not to impose al levy on these products. The Community is an im-l portant market for United] States soya products and forj oilseeds from other areas. The Parliament gave a generally favourable reaction to the Commission’s farm proposals which, primarily

through reducing surpluses in the grains and dairy sectors, aim at saving the Community up to the equivalent of SNZBI6m a year by 1978. But members reflected concern for the impact of the proposals on farmers or consumers, according to their individual interests. Mr Lardinois said that his

i proposals presented farmers , with sufficient opportunities i to change production to other f sectors. It was because of the pos- - sible inflationary affect on s consumers, as well as in the - interests of third countries, - that the Commission had not proposed import duties on s proteins.