CHINESE TRADE MISSION

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28260, 24 April 1957, Page 13

CHINESE TRADE MISSION

Talks Likely In Australia

(Rec. 11 p.m.) MELBOURNE, April 23. Australia’s Trade Minister (Mr John McEwen) sees an opportunity for “useful trade” between Australia and Communist China. He was commenting on a report that trade representatives of Communist China may come to Australia. Mr McEwen said the Government understood that some trade representatives proposed to come for an on-the-spot examination and discussion with commercial interests of further opportunities for reciprocal trade. There had been contacts between Communist China and Australia on trade during the last 12 months. Last year, the senior Australian Trade Commissioner in the Far East (Mr H. C. Menzies) visited Pekin at the invitation of the Chinese Government, which had shown a desire to stimulate trading between the two countries. About six months ago, Mr McEwen said, a group of Chinese trade representatives visited Australia and Australian businessmen had visited Communist China. A useful and expanding trade in wool tops was developed between Communist China and Australia. Previously, China’s wool tops supply came from the United Kingdom, probably with processed Australian wool. He was sure there was an ex-, panding and eventually quite a big market in wool tops with China to meet her growing textile industry. There was also evidence of a market for Australian agricultural machinery and other items.

China could sell Australia tea, tung oil, hog bristles, etc. Australia raised no objection to trade in goods other than those classified as strategic items by the Western Powers.

He emphasised that trading would not be on a government-to-government basis. In all Communist countries, he said, most

trade was carried out by government agencies. As far as Australia was concerned, trading would be carried out through normal private enterprise trade channels apart from statutory marketing bodies such as the Wheat Board. Mr McEwen added that in any <b~>Ho with Communist China no privileged tariff treatment had oeen sought or suggested.