FED: Fischer calls in Japan ambassador over rice tariff

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-1998
FED: Fischer calls in Japan ambassador over rice tariff

By Stephen Spencer, Diplomatic Correspondent

CANBERRA, Dec 16 AAP - Japans ambassador to Australia has been called in and theres been
urgent talks with the United States over a Japanese plan to throttle rice imports with a
tariff of up to 1,200 per cent, Trade Minister Tim Fischer said today.

But Mr Fischer will find himself under fire over trade protectionism tomorrow when he
visits New Zealand in the wake of Australias decision to again ban imports of New Zealand
apples.

Mr Fischer said Japans move to impose the massive tariff just years after it had been
forced to open up its rice market was a huge concern for Australia.

"I spoke this morning with Charlene Barshefsky, US Trade Representative in respect of this,
so great was my concern," he told reporters.

"We both agreed that we wanted urgent consultations with the Japanese government on the
matter and we both questioned the leadership of Japan in going down this pathway."

Mr Fischer revealed he had also ordered Japans Ambassador to Australia Masaji Takahashi be
called in to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) because of concern about the
tariff.

Japan allows imports to make up just eight per cent of its rice market, but this has
already enabled Australia to develop a $72 million export industry.

A DFAT spokesman said senior departmental officials had pressed on the ambassador
Australias concerns about the impact of the tariff.

"Our particular concern is that any new export regime does not impede existing access for
imported rice or in anyway further disadvantage imported rice," the spokesman said.

"Were urging the Japanese to avoid excessively high tariff levels."

Mr Fischer said Australia would continue to lobby the Japanese government at all levels.

Mr Fischer leaves for New Zealand tonight, where he will be questioned over Australias
decision last week to ban New Zealand apples over concerns about the bacterial disease
fireblight.

New Zealand claims the decision is not backed by scientific evidence and Australia is using
bogus quarantine restrictions as a form of trade protectionism.

It has threatened to take Australia to the World Trade Organisation, and Mr Fischer admits
the issue is certain to dominate his discussions with New Zealand counterpart Lockwood Smith
in Wellington tomorrow.

But Mr Fischer has vowed to give as good as he gets.

"Right now our tomatoes are subject to restrictions into New Zealand," he said.

"Trout, without any justification on the science, has been blocked completely by New
Zealand.

"I look forward to some very interesting discussions in windy Wellington."

AAP ss/mfh/it/de

KEYWORD: JAPAN FISCHER

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