Agricultural contention for trade meeting

Press, 12 September 1986, Page 28

Agricultural contention for trade meeting

NZPA staff correspondent Washington Agriculture is emerging as probably the key contentious difference to be resolved at the global trade meeting which will open in Uruguay next week. The United States, which recently entered into a subsidised farm exports war with the European Community in a bid to win back markets, and the E.E.C. are reportedly still sharply divided on whether agricultural subsidies should be cut. The United States, like New Zealand, Australia and other agricultural exporting nations, wants quick agreement on lower levels of subsidy on agricultural production and trade. Reports from prelimin-

ary meetings in Europe and briefings here indicate that France and the E.E.C. are still opposed to any wording in the final conference communique, however bland, that would bind it to an attack on farm subsidies, the issue of most direct importance to New Zealand. That and other topics are to be discussed during the meeting at Punta del Este, Uruguay, which begins on Monday and will be attended by 2000 trade officials and political representatives from 92 signatory nations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. New Zealand will be represented by the Minister of Overseas Trade, Mr Moore. G.A.T.T. sets out the basic rules and disciplines under which trade in much of the world is conducted.