EXPORTS TO CHINA

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28259, 23 April 1957, Page 11

EXPORTS TO CHINA

Australia To Seek Rise

(N.Z. Press Association Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) CANBERRA, Apr. 22. Increased opportunities for Australian exports to Communist China are expected to follow any modification of restrictions imposed by the Allied countries on trade with China.

This was learned last night following an announcement by the American State Department that the United States had agreed to easing the present embargo on trade with Communist China. An easing of the trade restrictions would enable China to sell more of its exports to other countries, which in turn would give China additional currency to buy more from Australia. Trade between the two countries at present is small. China’s main imports from Australia are relatively small quantities of wool tops. However, there might be a much greater market in China for Australian wool and for agricultural machinery. The Minister of Trade (Mr J. McEwen) said last night that Australia would be interested and would raise no objections to twoway trade with Communist China in goods other than strategic commodities. Australian businessmen were visiting China, particularly as a result of inquiries originating there, and there was evidence that Communist Chinese interests were investigating opportunities on the spot in Australia, he said.