Grain exporters try to avoid subsidy war

Press, 3 February 1983, Page 10

Grain exporters try to avoid subsidy war

NZPA-Reuter Brussels The world's five main grain exporters will hold talks in Washington in April to seek ways to support international prices and avoid a costly subsidies war. says the Canadian Wheat Board Minister, Mr Hazen Argue. After a meeting with the European Farm Commissioner, Mr Poul Dalsager, he said that the talks would be. at senior official level and will include the European Community. Canada, the United States, Argentina and Australia. The United States and other producers have

accused the Common Market of stealing their markets through the use of export subsidies. Asked about the danger of an Atlantic farm subsidy war, Mr Argue said he regarded it as a real danger, but hoped that consultations between the principal exporters could resolve the differences. The E.E.Ct's share of international farm trade rose sharply for several important products over the last decade, newly published figures show. The figures, issued by the European Commission, show that the Common Market

took 63 per cent of world trade in milk in 1980, compared with 40.5 per cent 10 years earlier. A sharp rise in butter exports gave.the Community 61.4 per cent of trade in 1980, up from less than 27 per cent a decade earlier, while its share of the world sugar market rose to 15.3 per cent from 4.6 per cent. But exports of grain re- . mained relatively stable at ■ about 6.5 per cent. Community sources said that the figures were likely to be at the centre of talks over farm trade.