Butter access promotion

Press, 26 August 1982, Page 13

Butter access promotion

PA Wellington New Zealand's case for the continued access to the British butter market will be promoted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr Cooper, before the European Economic Community decides on the issue next month. The E.E.C.'s Council for Agriculture Ministers will consider the European Commission's proposal that New Zealand be allowed to send 89.000 tonnes of butter to Britain next year, at its September 20-21 meeting. Mr Cooper said. •■\Ve know that European Agriculture Ministers will be under strong pressure from their own farmers to decide

on a significantly lower tonnage for New Zealand than that being proposed." he said. "For this reason I am going to Europe immediately before the council meets to impress on European Ministers personally how important a favourable decision on this question is to New Zealand." Mr Cooper will visit all 10 E.E.C. capitals from September 6 to 16 and hold discussions with the European Commission in Brussels. “The 1983 butter quantity decision is the first issue in what promises to be a drawn-out series of negotiations over the next 18 months or so." Mr Cooper said.