No Japanese dairy quotas

Press, 6 July 1977, Page 7

No Japanese dairy quotas

Wellington reporter Japan remains reluctant to agree to regular import quotas for New Zealand dairy products, according to the Ministry of Agriculture economist (Mr S. Rajasekar) who has just returned from the second round of six-monthly dairy supply and demand discussions held with the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture.

The talks were initiated by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) on his visit to Japan in 1976.

Mr Rajasekar reported that there was no change in the Japanese position, even though Japan had to import about 100,000 tonnes of butter, cheese and powder products each year to fill the gap between domestic production and total consumption.

“Because of its desire for self-sufficiency — a remote hope, the Japanese Government is reluctant to regularise this trade,” he said.

New Zealand, as a major source of Japan’s shortfall requirements, would prefer to see stability in the trade pattern. New Zealand had pointed out to the Japanese the continuing gap between domestic production and total consumption. There appeared to be very little concern in Japan about the high cost of promoting self-sufficiency in dairy production and the effect of high retail prices on per capita consumption of dairy products, Mr Rajasekar said.