U.S. second trade partner

Press, 17 July 1980, Page 9

U.S. second trade partner

The United States has become New Zealand’s s e c o n d-biggest trading partner. New Zealand exports to the United States in 1979 came to a record $632 million, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs annual report tabled in Parliament. This has doubled over the previous two years. . The report said the boost in trade, mainly meat sales, made the United States second only to Britain as an export market. Some 396.8 million worth of beef and almost $3O million worth of lamb were sold to the United States in 1979. In the same period United States sales to New Zealand rose 30 per cent. But access for beef was 'a matter of continuing concern for New Zealand 1979, the report noted. The previous year President Carter had vetoed legislation aimed at restricting meat imports. Similar legislation was in-

troduced in 1979 and came into-effect on Januar' 1. “In future years it could become a point of difficulty to the relationship between the two countries,” said the report. The New Zealand-United States bilateral trade agreement was signed on May 21 last year. The talks produced better access for key New Zealand agricultural exports “but they still fell short of what the government had sought.” The United States continued as one of New Zealand’s most important bilateral links. Noting the obvious differences in size and power, the report said balancing factors were the shared language, values and interests which gave the relationship depth. The report said a more flexible economic and trading relationship was needed between New Zealand and Canada. The 1932 Canada-New Zealand trade agreement needed to be replaced and although talks in December were inconclusive, more were planned this year.