Impact of trade barriers studied

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 26

Impact of trade barriers studied

NZPA London The impact of protectionism on the trade of developing countries is being studied by a group of Commonwealth experts in London. The 11-member group, chaired by Sir Alexander Cairncross, a former head of the British Government’s Economic Service, includes a New Zealander. Dr Eric Ojala. a consultant in agricultural economics and former assistant directorgeneral of the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Other members include Mr Satya Nandan. Fiji’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Mr Olu Sanu. Nigeria’s High

Commissioner lo Australia and New Zealand.

The group has been set up in line with a decision of last year’s Commonwealth heads of Government meeting in Melbourne where anxiety was voiced at the trend towards increased protectionism.

The meeting called for more efforts to reduce tariff and non-tariff trade barriers and to reach agreement on effective rules to cover emergency safeguards. The group, which is meeting at Marlborough House, headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat, is examining the effect of trade barriers on industrial and agricultural products. It will report in time to help Commonwealth governments prepare for the General Agreement .on Tariffs and Trade Ministerial meeting in November which will look at the intenational trading system with a view to improving it. Another group of Commonwealth experts will report on "obstacles in the negotiating process between the developed and developing countries."

This also results from a decision of the Melbourne heads of Government meeting. The Commonwealth Secretariat said that Com-

monwealth leaders believed it was "imperative to revitalise the dialogue between developed and developing countries. with the growing interdependence of the world economy making urgent action necessary to deal with the economic problems of both groups of countries. ” This needed "a political commitment, clear vision, and intellectual realism." The Secretariat said the Commonwealth leaders recognised that lack of progress in negotiations resulted in part from the negotiating process itself.

Nations must “cast aside inhibitions and habits which had thwarted progress in the past and find new ways to talk constructively to one another so as to reach agreement on effective joint action."

The group is chaired by Mr B A. Clark, the former Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nations. The nine members include Professor Thomas Koh. Singapore’s Ambassador to the United Nations, professor Owen Harries. Australian Ambassador to U.N.E.5.C.0.. Mr Bernard Chidzero. Zimbabwe's Minister of Economic Planning and Development. and Mr William Clark, a former World Bank vicepresident for external relations.