Chile wants to see embargo go

Press, 8 May 1978, Page 2

Chile wants to see embargo go

Parliamentary reporter

New Zealand is now the only country in the world outside Cuba to embargo trade with Chile, says the Chilean Ambassador to New Zealand (Mr Ernesto Jobet). This follows the decision by Australian trade unions to lift their ban on handling' trade between Australia and Chile. The Australian tradeunion organisation, A.C.T.U. decided to remove its ban on April 17. Now, said Mr Jobet, Chile hoped that New Zealand would reassess the ban on trade. “New Zealand and Chile are neighbours in the Pacifiic. We feel that, instead of buying from Europe as we are now doing, we should buy from New Zealand as a member country of the Pacific Basin. This becomes particularly important for New Zealand considering the problems it is facing, and will probably continue to face, in selling its agricultural produce to the E.E.C.,” he said.

“Chile has always been a potential buyer of New Zealand meat and dairy products. We would certainly like to see a resumption of normal trade between our two countries, which have so much in common.”

He pointed out that New Zealand was also in the middle of an Export Year promotion. The Pacific Basin, he said, would have a particular significance in world trading patterns in the coming years. It made sense for all countries in the area to develop trade between themselves.

“After all, Chile can provide an ideal gateway for New Zealand into the rest of South America,” Mr Jobet said.