Breakthrough

with New Caledonia

NEW Zealand, Australia and other exporting nations may benefit from what is being described as a break-through trade agreement with New Caledonia.

A nine-member New Zealand trade mission went to Noumea in late No vember, coinciding with a visit to the French Territory by New Zealand’s External Relations and Trade Minis ter, Don McKinnon.

McKinnon said breakthrough had been made in commitments given by New Caledonian authorities to liberal ise access for wine and dairy products.

The pledge to allow in more imports came from France’s High Com missioner to New Caledonia, Alain Christnacht.

Under existing import rules, milk powder exports to New Caledonia face quotas. Shipments of UHT milk are prohibited, as is wine from sources other than France.

Wellington lawyer, Celia Caughey of Russell McVeagh, who prepared the ground for the trade mission by report ing on the potential to increase New Zealand’s annual $42 million export trade, said New Caledonia already imported a lot of wood products and there is much potential for exporting construction materials. Boats and pleasure craft, especially yachts, and marine equipment were in high de mand by both wealthy residents and the tourist trade. New Zealand oysters were already selling successfully and there were markets for other foodstuffs, including fresh fruit and vegetables.

New Zealand’s agricultural expertise could provide the basis for technologi cal transfers in such areas as deer and

poultry farming.

There’s a flip-side to the trade agreement, details of which remain to be settled. Jacques Lafleur, New Cale donian magnate and leader of the pro- French RPCR party, said there must be an improvement in two-way trade. Last year, New Caledonia exported only SNZ3OO in goods to New Zealand.

There have been difficulties for access of prawns and tropical fruit shipments because of New Zealand’s strict quar antine standards.

Apart from any trade deals, New Zealand is keen to attract more invest ment from New Caledonia. With its huge nickel export exports, New Cale donia enjoys a per capita Gross Na tional Product not much below New Zealand’s □