N.Z. officials briefed on U.S.-Japan pact

Press, 1 July 1988, Page 3

N.Z. officials briefed on U.S.-Japan pact

By

TIM DONOGHUE

NZPA Hong Kong New Zealand officials in Tokyo have received full briefings on Japan’s recent beef settlements with the United States and Australia. Officials of the Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Fisheries and Trade and Industry departments in Wellington are believed to be considering the Japanese settlements. For the year ended March 31, 1988, New Zealand supplied 7862 tonnes (3.6 per cent), Australia 121,127 tonnes (55 per cent) and the United States 85,292 tonnes (38.8 per cent) of Japan’s beef imports. Japanese officials propose that New Zealand be covered under the quota system outlined in the bi-

lateral agreements with the United States and Aus-

tralia. Options open to the New Zealand Government include accepting the Japanese proposal, pursuing the issue further in the Geneva-based General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or going for a bilateral agreement. Australian officials expect Japan’s phasing out of barriers will enable Australia to double the quantity of beef it exports to Japan. Japan intends to phase out its beef barriers over the next three years. The quotas are due to be replaced by tariffs of 70 per cent in the fiscal 1991 year, 60 per cent in 1992 and 50 per cent in 1993 and after.