Trade ban on Chile ‘hurts only N.Z.’

Press, 3 June 1981, Page 2

Trade ban on Chile ‘hurts only N.Z.’

Trade sanctions against Chile. imposed by the Federation of Labour, were hurting only New Zealand, said the commercial attache to the Embassy of Chile, in Wellington. Mr Daniel, Camus, in Christchurch yesterday. The sanctions were not affecting Chile at all, he said. Speaking at a luncheon ■ meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Mr Camus said that New Zealand businessmen wanting to export to Chile were losing by the- trade ban. “But it is not affecting my country, which can afford to buy anything it wants anywhere in the world,” he said. “With Cuba, New Zealand is the only country in the world not trading with Chile. 4 It is a ridiculous situation, and it is dangerous for the .New Zealand market to be out of Chile so long.” Mr Camus said that according to experts trade between New Zealand and

Chile should reach $lOO million a year. This was what New Zealand was missing out on. “The Federation of Labour surprises us with its outrageous position.” he said. “Its . leaders in New Zealand are grossly misinformed and behirid the times. “Why do the F.O.L. leaders repeatedly refuse to recognise the many valid reasons for getting rid of their trade sanctions?” Unionism in Chile was comparable with that of most countries, Mr Camus said. “We have had voluntary unionism in Chile since 1979, with self-financed .trade unions and the freedom for unionists to undertake industrial action, provided they are not involved in essential industries,” Mr Camus said. “Chile is now a free and independent country that is heading towards economic and social stability.”