More time -for C.E.R. needed, says Minister

Press, 12 March 1982, Page 1

More time -for C.E.R. needed, says Minister

NZPA Sydney The starting date for the closer economic relations agreement will probably be put back further into 1983 to allow time for more consultation. The Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Templeton) said from Canberra last evening that it was apparent from talks with the Australian Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) and other key Australian Ministers that more time was needed for consultation with industry and sectional groups on C.E.R. “It may well suit us too,” he told NZPA. “But the intent is still to have it under way early in 1983," he said. Until now, and since the Commonwealth heads of government meeting last October, New Zealand had been looking for a signing of the draft heads of agreement on C.E.R. by June at the latest, with the new trade agree-

ment coming into effect from January 1, 1983. But last month the Australian Primary Industry Minister, Mr Peter Nixon, maintained that this date was “too optimistic,” an opinion dismissed by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) as “just an observation.” Mr Templeton said yesterday that he had a “warm and fruitful” meeting with Mr Nixon who set out the problems the Australians had with consulting their agricultural and industrial sector groups. The point was also made by the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Anthony). “What has emerged is that on each side there is good will and intent for C.E.R. to succeed but the sectoral groups want to see the draft and have a clear idea of what is involved before the Prime Ministers sign,” Mr Templeton said.

The timetable now was for a meeting of permanent heads of departments in midApril to resolve outstanding problems on items such as dairy products, export incentives. and import licensing. There might be a Ministerial meeting after that, then an “exposure draft” of the C.E.R. agreement would be made public for discussion. Once that was out of the way there would be a signing by the respective Prime Ministers with the C.E.R. agreement coming into effect in the early part of 1983. “I hope we can adhere as close as possible to the early part of the year, but some slippage would not be of too great a moment,” Mr Templeton said. He said that his two days of talks in Canberra had been “very effective” and both sides agreed that C.E.R. had to go ahead. Mr Anthony’s view, page 2.