Developing nations seek trade and aid

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33741, 14 January 1975, Page 13

Developing nations seek trade and aid

BRUSSEI S. January 13. Ministers from 4o developing countries begin luo days of negotiations today in an effort to wring from the European Common Market the concessions they seek to end IS-month-old talks for new trade and aid arrangements. Officials front both sides said last, night that intensive expert- eve’ negotiations throughout last week failed to bridge the gaps still separating the two groups.

Experts worked until late (yesterday but some major points remained unresolved. The new arrangements i would replace the Yaounde I and Arusha conventions j which at present link 22 mainly African developing countries to the Community.

They would also cover more subjects and include Commonwealth and other countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific regions.

Ministers from each side will meet separately today before starting a joint conference at Brussels’ Egmont Palace in the evening. They have a crowded

(agenda dominated by a discussion over the price the Community, particularly Britain, should pay for 1.4 million tons of sugar that the Nine have promised to buy yearly from the developing countries. Price talks between Britain and its traditional Caribbean cane sugar suppliers broke I down in London on Friday.

! The developing countries, (which have so far been remarkably united in their (stands, are also demanding (completely duty-free entry into the Community for all their food exports. In addition, they want at least £4ooom (SNZ7OBOm) in financial aid instead of the

l$NZ2655m so far offered by i the Nine. Meanwhile Community farm Ministers will meet separately today to begin their usually uphill task of fixing the prices to be guaranteed to food producers under the E.E.C.’s •Common Agricultural Policy. Executive commission proposals to grant an average

9 per cent producers’ price 1 rise are being opposed byseveral countries including Britain. France, and West i Germany. Britain and West Germane say that the rises will cut into consumers’ pockets and encourage the already serious inflationary trend within the Community. France and Belgium think that the rises are not enough even to cover producer costs, (while a powerful Community 'farmers’ group has already demanded a minimum 15 pet j cent across the - board iincrease. Britain’s Agriculture Mtn |ister (Mr Fred Peart) will also seek backing for a British Government study which argues that the Community’s existing producers’ price support system for beef could lead to an 1840,000- tonne surplus beef “mountain” this year. ' It says that the British suggestions for an alternative system could bring (consumers up to SNZ26SSm worth of benefits if adopted (completely.