Sheepmeat prospects ‘improved’

Press, 20 September 1980, Page 25

Sheepmeat prospects ‘improved’

NZPA correspondent

Brussels The Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and the Minister of Trade and Resources (Mr Douglas Anthony) believes he may have improved access to the European Economic Community for Australian sheepmeat.

However, he believes the E.E.C.’s credibility is still at stake over other issues, and has apparently widened threats of retaliatory action to include the possible dismantling of undertakings given by Australia under the multilateral trade negotiations.

Mr Anthony was speaking at a press briefing in Brussels after meetings with the E.E.C. Commissioner for Industrial Relations (Viscount Etienne d’Avignon), the DirectorGeneral of External Affairs (Sir Roy Denman), and the Commissioner for the- Budget (Mr Christopher Tugendhat).

“I feel that I am making some progress on sheepmeats,” Mr Anthonv said. “I cannot say more than that, but I think there is a realisation that we have got a justifiable case and that what we are requesting is reasonable.” The new amount is believed to be more than the 9000 tonnes a year recently offered by the E.E.C. Commissioner'for Agriculture (Mr F. O. Gundelach), but below Australia’s average export performance of 20,000 tonnes a year.