Progress on farm subsidy action

Press, 16 September 1986, Page 2

Progress on farm subsidy action

NZPA-Reuter ’ Punta del Este Leading exporters of farm produce yesterday decided to press ahead with plans to force the European Community to change its system of agricultural subsidies which they say is disrupting world' trade and threatening their economies. A meeting in Uruguay of the so-called Group of 14, which includes New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, and Canada, agreed to insist that trade in agricultural produce be included in the next round of talks on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the agenda for which is being thrashed out this week. The Australian Minister of Trade, Mr John Dawkins, who chairs the group, said after yesterday’s meeting that it would seek immediately the strongest possible commitment to changes to farm production and export subsidies. The European Community’s chief negotiator, Mr Willy de Ciercq, described the stance of the group, outlined in a statement made after a meeting in Cairns, Australia, at the end of last month, as “unacceptable.”

The Minister for Overseas Trade and Marketing, Mr Moore, said that unless the question of agriculture subsidies was included in the next round of G.A.T.T. talks there would be no point in the talks being held. “We can see no way of further talks being held without the inclusion of agriculture on the agenda,” he said. Support for the Group of 14 also came from a United States Trade Representative, Mr Clayton Yeutter, who told members the inclusion of agriculture in G.A.T.T. represented one of the highest priorities for his country.