Call for applications in first step of C.E.R.

Press, 19 November 1982, Page 11

Call for applications in first step of C.E.R.

PA Wellington The Trade and Industry Department has called for applications for special Australian import. licences in the first step of the Closer Economic Relations agreement.

Arrangements for the E.A.L.- (Exclusive Australian Licences) were outlined by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Templeton, who said that they had “a key role in getting C.E.R. off the ground.” The allocation has three steps, with the first two overlapping, he • said, and manufacturers should make licence applications and associated representations as soon as possible.

The steps outlined by Mr Templeton were: © Manufacturers who consider that 5 per cent of the market formula should apply in a case where the threeyear trade base is less than $400,000 in an item code, should make application to the Trade and Industry Department as soon as possible. © The 5 per cent of the market will only be available where 5 per cent of the market is established at between $200,000 and $400,000 an item code. The deadline for such applications is December 24. “Manufacturers who seek a share of the portion of E.A.L. reserved for manufacturers (normally 50 per cent) are also invited to make

their requests as soon as possible.” The deadline for these requests is Friday, February 25. The information they will need to provide is set out in published guidelines.

Tenders will be called by mid-February when details of the licence to be tendered will be published in the Gazette. Tenders will remain open for six weeks and the results are expected to be published in the Gazette by mid-April.

Any unallocated licence from the manufacturers’ portion of E.A.L. will be added to the tender licences before tenders close, and a lower cut-off point for successful bids will apply in such cases.