HC Deb 29 May 1957 vol 571 c39W
Mr. Shepherd

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the trade talks with the New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister.

Sir D. Eccles

Our trade talks with Mr. Holyoake, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture in New Zealand, ended yesterday. In these talks we examined together the whole field of trade relations between the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Mr. Holyoake and his delegation were chiefly concerned to safeguard the position of New Zealand exports of primary produce in our market, and we agreed to make certain changes in the Ottawa Agreement to this end.

I have placed in the Library of the House copies of the Joint Communiqué which Mr. Holyoake and I have issued. The text of the Agreement is reproduced below and will be printed as a Command Paper and laid before Parliament as soon as possible.