N.Z. will not act against E.E.C.

Press, 13 June 1978, Page 2

N.Z. will not act against E.E.C.

PA Wellington i New Zealand was not ! thinking of taking any retaliatory action against the I European Economic Community if its sheepmeat proposals went through, said the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) yesterday. “There is no necessity for |it,” he said. “We have a continuous dialogue.”

| Mr Muldoon was answering questions at a news conference about reports that Australia’s Acting Prime [Minister (Mr Anthony) had [said Australia would be [forced to re-examine imports [from the E.E.C. unless it gave better access to Australian farm products. Australia’s position in Europe was different from New Zealand’s, Mr Muldoon said. Australia had not had access but New Zealand had, although on a diminishing basis.

Mr Muldoon said he was “most interested” that the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) had supported New Zealand’s case on lamb sales to Europe. New Zealand would “keep talking” with the Australi is on this, he said. Mr Muldoon said he was still not pessimistic about the sheepmeat p oposals.

He said he had no doubt that the proposals now before the E.E.C. Ministers, were not acceptable to most of them, particularly France, which thought they were not stringent enough.