Clamp warning on beef

Press, 25 June 1983, Page 7

Clamp warning on beef

NZPA Sydney Beef exports from New Zealand to the United States had greatly exceeded expectations and could lead to American restrictions on importers, including Australia, in the fourth quarter this year, said the president of the Cattlemen’s Union, Mr lan Park. New Zealand’s share of the market had risen to 34.2 per cent so far this year, from 26.7 in 1982, he said. The Australian Minister’ for Primary Industry, Mr John Kerin, is in the United States for talks with meat industry officials while the matter will be raised in meetings between New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, and the Australian Government in Canberra. The Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation has already registered concern about the levels of New

Zealand shipments with the American Administration. The executive director of the Cattlemen’s Union, Mr Rick Farley, said that New Zealand “was acting like the E.E.C. of the Pacific Basin.” Mr Farley said that New Zealand’s normal entitlement was 145,000 tonnes this year out of a United States global quota of 558,400 tonnes. Until voluntary restraints by the United States applied, New Zealand exports, which had risen to 80,700 tonnes at the end of May against 51,800 tonnes at the same time last year, were likely to continue at this high level. Australia’s exports at the end of May totalled 98,600 tonnes out of a normal entitlement this year of between 295,000 tonnes and 307.000 tonnes.