C.E.R. time scale ‘tight’

Press, 28 October 1982, Page 6

C.E.R. time scale ‘tight’

PA Wellington The Australian Deputy Prime Minister. Mr Anthony, said last evening that the time scale for starting closer economic relations was getting very tight. The agreement is due to start on January 1. He hoped a conclusion could be reached in talks with New Zealand Ministers today, said Mr Anthony, soon after he arrived from Canberra. He said he still thought the January 1 start could be met

"but I don't think that is irrevocable. I think we can look at other dates as long as we achieve the objective, that is, trying to bring about a free trade area between our two countries so that we can maximise our resources with a bigger market." Mr Anthony said there was good support in Australia for the principles of C.E.R., better than he expected at the start. “I think the same thing applies to New Zealand. There is quite a learning

thing going on in both countries as to the usefulness of such an objective. “We have to think where do we go in the future if two countries like Australia and New Zealand cannot get together and come to some amicable arrangement on free trade between the two countries." The Labour Party has told the Government to stick to its “non-negotiable" stance over agreed phase-out dates for import licensing under C.E.R. On the eve of the talks

between Australia and New Zealand. Labour's spokesman on trade. Mr R. O. Douglas (Manurewa). said the agreed phase-out date of 1995 should not be changed. The Prime Minister. Mr Muldoon, has already said that that' date, and the 1987 end for export incentives, are not negotiable. In return for agreement on the dates. Mr Anthony is expected to seek "very significant" increases in the initial level of access to the New Zealand market for Australian exporters.