Trade barriers falling

Press, 20 October 1983, Page 4

Trade barriers falling

PA Auckland Japanese trade barriers are coming down slowly but surely, according to the chairman of the Japan-New Zealand Business council, Mr A. B. Downey. At a press conference last evening on the eve of the tenth Business Council conference, New Zealand delegate leaders made it clear that the main obstacle to much of New Zealand’s trade j growth with Japan remaOd tariff barriers on

primary produce and timber products. Pressure from outside Japan for the Japanese Government to liberalise its trade was having an effect, said Mr Downey. “The trend is definitely towards liberalisation. Agricultural interest (in Japan) and protectionist lobbies really have diminished and have a lesser voice than in the past.” •' He said it appeared that the Japanese Govemnjent was reacting

foreign political pressure than paying any great political attention to consumer demands within Japan for lower prices. The chief executive of the National Bank of New Zealand, Mr S. R. Russell, who heads the New Zealand delegation on raw materials, said a special effort would be made to get i Japan to reduce the tariffs .» on carpet wool Japn is one of New Zealand’s top wool buyers each u year.