U.S. asks N.Z. for more beef

Press, 24 June 1978, Page 21

U.S. asks N.Z. for more beef

I 'NZPA staff correspondent ; Washington New Zealand will be asked to ship at least '53Mj lb of the extra 200 M lb of: 'beef imports to the United, iStates just sanctioned by the Carter Administration, say I United States Government I sources. The figure. 11M lb above I New Zealand’s pro-rata mar- , ket share of the additional 'imports, will almost cerItainiy go even higher, say I the sources. This is because New Zealand and Australia are the only two countries that have i surplus meat in storage to fill American requirements.

I The other 11 suppliers of; ibeef to the United States ! market have almost no extra . meat available beyond their! ! current quotas, under voluntary restraint agreements. ; Australia's market share I, of the 200 M lb will be !;102.7M lb, but Australia has; been asked to lift that . amount to 123 M lb. ! The American requests to! ■ New Zealand to send 53M lb! ■ and to Australia to supply, 1;123M lb will leave only 24M: ■ lb to fill. The sources sav it is high-1 iy likely that other suppliers- - will not be able to ship even; ■ this amount, meaning fur-' Ether pleas to New Zealand! ■ and Australia to make up (the gap.