Mr Taiboys happy with U.S. talks

Press, 2 March 1981, Page 1

Mr Taiboys happy with U.S. talks

NZPA correspondent Washington There will be ne more moves to limit New Zealand exports to the United States if the American Secretary of State (Mr Alexander Haig) has his wav. that is the message the Foreign Minister (Mr Talboys) took with him when he left Washington yesterday after a “very worthwhile” three-day stopover after his latest round of battle with the European Common Market. Mr Taiboys was the first New Zealand Minister to meet top officials of the new Reagan Administration, and leading congressmen. He came to tell them bluntly that New Zealand could not play its full role as a member of the A.N.Z.U.S. treaty if its livestock-dominated economy was weakened by new trade barriers as proposed by American beef, /dairy, and sheepfarmers. Mr Haig told him; when they met on Friday evening, that the A.N.Z.U.S. treaty was “a vital element in American policy,” and he promised his “vigorous support” against any moves by other quarters of the Administration, or by Congress, to impose additional limits on New Zealand imports. Mr Taiboys said that this was “perhaps a stronger response” from the State Department than New Zealand had ever had before. He had also won an assurance from President Reagan’s top international trade adviser. Mr William Brock, that future United States trade policies would be directly linked with foreign policy. The “Brock doctrine” says that the United States should not adopt any trade policy that, will hurt a political and military ally. All this encouraged Mr Taiboys to say: “I think there is a better appreciation of the New Zealand

position by this Administration than we have had before. ; "New Zealand’s problems about limitations of access to the, American market have not • been. re-. moved, but there are powerful forces ready to defend us. J;*' .'.“The battle is not over,, but I am sure that if there is to be a battle, then there are forces that will arrange themselves to support New Zealand’s interests.” It all appeared to mark a substantial change from the Muldoon Government’s sometimes shaky relationship with the previousAdministration of . Mr Jimmy?'Carter,? whicti .in-. t reduced the Meat Import Act, limiting, overseas beef shipments. ■ . But Mr Taiboys emphasisedf that he had been given : no . “undertakings,” and he was constantly reminded that the Reagan Government ■ had to " deal with the political realities of a/ powerful and influential farming lobby. There is, as one observer noted,.the .be^t,,will in the world towards.-New Zealand, but there are strong competing forces in the United States today, and it is too early to predict the outcome, of the battles yet' to corhe. Mr Taiboys said that he found a clear understanding of the significance of the trade questions he raised in the over-all . relationship between the two countries. Of the new threats toNew Zealand’s exports, he said: “The signs are that they will not' get worse, and are likely to get better.” As far as the State Department was concerned there was “a recognition of the vital element of A.N.Z.U.S. in the relationship and our concern about access to markets.” American sources . said that Mr Haig’s response to Mr Taiboys reflected the Administration’s desire to.

strengthen America’s alliances, -and -acceptance that it was self-defeating not to help its allies. But with renewed demands by farmers to limit imports of casein and lamb — supported by some members of Con-, gress. — and the ever-,’; present possibility of poli? tical "trade-offs" as' the; Administration . slashes. federal -spending ~ > the? assurances Mr Talbnys rib-? tained have yet to be put to the test. ’. <??!-,-??<?/■ The State. Department : has ■ warmly welcomed New Zealand’s- support of, American statements on* El Salvador,. ’ “New Zealahd -fully ; shares the concern of -the United States about the supply of -arms from abroad to the ariti-Govem-ment: Crees in? El Salvador,? Mr Taiboys said ■yesterday.? ??'C’ . ..?. * “We sincerely hope that the. situation can be resolved by peaceful means, and I have real confidence that the United States Government will act with the utmost responsibility." It is.'.believed that .theUnited States had specifically asked the • New’.Zea- ; land . Government for .a > statement of support dn : its- position on El Salvador. ■ ; ■ ■ . ‘