After the Veto: Trade Policy in the Mid-1960s

Abstract

Britain’s failure to gain entry into the EEC gave some relief to worried farmers in Australasia. But the long-term commercial prospects for New Zealand and Australia continued to be shrouded in uncertainty. It was widely expected that Britain would renew its attempt to join the Common Market. In the meantime, it was possible that it would adopt a restrictive, European-style agricultural policy, offer agricultural concessions to EFTA, and exploit BP margins to the full. Consequently, New Zealand and Australia could not afford to relax the search for alternative Outlets

Australian TV interviewer: Do you think there is any possibility that there may be complacency in Australia now that Britain is not going in [to the EEC]. We may feel that there is no need to seek further markets. Do you think there is any danger of that?

John McEwen, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade: No, I don’t think there is danger that this development should produce complacency … we go on discussing our trade relationship with the United Kingdom and go on searching the world … [for] trading opportunities.¹