Aust. move against U.S. wheat export

Press, 26 July 1986, Page 3

Aust. move against U.S. wheat export

NZPA-AAP Canberra The Australian Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, has asked the Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Mulroney, to make urgent representation to the Reagan Administration against the export of subsidised United States wheat to the Soviet Union and China. A spokesman for Mr Hawke said the Prime Minister had also sent a message to the Argentinian President, Mr Alt fonsin, urging him to make similar representations. Mr Hawke warned the American Secretary of State, Mr George Shultz, in a telephone call that a

United States Senate proposal to extend wheat exports, through its Export Enhancement Programme (E.E.P.), to the Soviet Union and China would mean the United States would be subsidising Communist regimes. The proposal threatens Australia’s biggest wheat markets and would bring the cost to Australia of E.E.P. in all markets to sAustl billion ($1.19 billion).

The spokesman said that as a further effort to prevent the extension of E.E.P. to the Soviet Union and China, Mr Hawke telephoned Mr Mulroney and spoke to him for about 15 minutes.

The spokesman said Mr Hawke had urged Mr Mulroney to make similar representations to the United States Administration as Mr Hawke had made to Mr Shultz. “The Prime Minister said Australia’s efforts would be enhanced if Mr Mulroney could make urgent representations to the Administration at the highest levels,” he said. “Mr Mulroney indicated that Canada too was deeply concerned about the proposed extension of the E.E.P. “In response to the Prime Minister’s request, Mr Mulroney undertook personally to convey these common concerns to the Administration.”

The spokesman said Mr Hawke had also sent a message to Mr Alfonsin