Minister takes case to Washington

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 3

Minister takes case to Washington

’' NZPA Washington i -i Having again fought the J New Zealand cause for » primary exports in Europe, . ;i the Minister of Overseas /Trade (Mr Taiboys) yester-i ijdayi fired the opening shots : ii of battle with a new Admin- / istration in the United -i States. ' Soon after arriving in; j: Washington from Brussels,! >|Mr' Talboy..’ was using his I >' veteran diplomacy on the! ■ newly appointed Secretary ••of Agriculture (Mr John' Block). | His main concerns were /New Zealand’s exports of ■ ■beef. lamb, and casein, the .! country's main dollar-eam-■jng exports to the United .■ States. All are under threat from • American producers who: /want to see imports reduced.! .■ Mr Taiboys does not seek ■or .expect immediate results. ■ i“We hope there will be no, /further limitation on our’ : exports — whether there is, i liberalisation is another j ; question.” he said, after his 'first round of talks. “I am simply here to reg-: lister our concern — and it! is useful to make these: ■ points as early as possible’ ,in the life of the new' i Administration.” i His task was to inform i the new Government of President Reagan of New; ; Zealand’s dependence on its' ’ livestock industry. : “I am asking that it take | on board our concerns as it/ ; develops its new policies,”. I Mr Taiboys said.