§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what foreign policy objectives are envisaged by providing New Zealand farmers with rights of access to United Kingdom and European Economic Community markets; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindThe old and close ties that bind the United Kingdom and New Zealand are too evident to require exposition.
The Community recognises that New Zealand's economy is dependent upon dairy and sheepmeat exports and that access to Community markets is essential for it. At the time of our accession, a commitment was therefore given to allow continuing access to the United Kingdom market for New Zealand's butter on special terms. This commitment was embodied in protocol 18 to our treaty of Accession to the Community. The current arrangements run to 1988, and there is provision for the Council to decide on continuing access thereafter. For sheepmeat, as a derogation of its GATT rights, New Zealand agreed to limit its sendings in return for which the Community halved the GATT-bound tariff to 10 per cent. and undertook not to use export subsidies to increase its own share of world sheepmeat trade.
Our continuing objective is to ensure that the Community honours its specific commitments to New Zealand, in accordance with its international obligations.