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ACTION COME-00
INFO OCT-01 EA-11 ISO-00 EB-11 DRC-01 RSC-01 /025 W
--------------------- 092413
R 050130Z APR 74
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7882
UNCLAS WELLINGTON 1027
EO 11652: NA
TAGS: ETRD NZ
SUBJ: 1974/75 IMPORT LICENSING SCHEDULE ISSUED
REF: A. EMBASSY'S A-70 APRIL 5, 1973
B. EMBASSY'S A-205 OCTOBER 25 1973
1. GENERAL LEVEL OF ALLOCATION WILL BE INCREASED
120 PERCENT OVER 1973/74 LEVEL.
2. "D" CATEGORY OF SPECIAL IMPORTS FOR WHICH IMPORT
LICENSE APPLICATIONS WERE CONSIDERED ONLY IN EXCEPTIONAL
CIRCUMSTANES HAS BEEN ELIMINATED. FORMER "D" ITEMS
WILL BE INCLUDED UNDER "C" OR BASIC ITEMS.
3. THE TOKEN LICENSE SCHEME HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED
AND EXISTING TOKEN LICENSES WILL BE CONVERETED TO BASIC
LICENSES FOR THE SAME GOODS.
4. IN SELECTED ITEM CODES AN ASSURANCE OF A THREE
YEAR MINIMUM LICENSE ENTITLEMENT IS GIVEN TO BASIC
LICENSE HOLDERS.
5. SPECIAL IMPORT LICENSES WILL CONTINUE TO BE
ISSUED TO MEET SHORT-FALLS IN DOMESTIC PRODUCTION.
6. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1974 A FEW MORE GOODS SUCH AS
CERTAIN SIZES OF TIRES, MICROPHONES, HEAD PHONES,
RECORD PLAYER CARTIRIDGES AND SOME SPORTING GOODS WILL
BE EXEMPT FROM IMPORT LICENSING CONTROL. THESE ARE NOT
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MANUFACTURED IN NEW ZEALAND. INDUSTRIAL KNITTING
MACHINES ARE RECONTROLLED EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
7. NOTICE ISSUED TO COMMERCIAL IMPORTERS STRESSES
IMPORT POLICY CONTNUES OBJECTIVE OF PROMOTING MAXIMUM
USE OF DOMESTIC RESOURCES AND STEADY INDUSTRIAL EXPANISION,
WHILE RECOGNIZING NEED FOR CONSUMER CHOICE AND VARIETY.
8. NO OVERALL RECONTROL OF GOODS ALREADY EXEMPT FROM
IMPORT LICENSING, BUT REIMPOSITION OF LICENSING POSSIBLE
IN CASES WHERE NECESSARY FOR ADEQUATE PROTECZMON FOR
"EFFICIENT DOMESTIC INDUSTRY.".
9. GNZ CALCULATES 70 PERCENT BY VALUE OF PRIVATE IMPORTS
ARE EXEMPT FROM LICENSING.
10. REACTION NZ INDUSTRY IS GENERALLY FAVORABLE.
MANUFACTURERS' FEDERATION DR. GEN. DESCRIBED SCHEDULE AS
"REALISTIC".
11. IMPORTERS LESS PLEASED, CLAIMING 20 PERCENT
INCREASE OVER 1973/74 BASIC LICENSISES ALLOCATIONS WOULD
IN MANY CASES PERMIT IMPORTATION OF ONLY 50 TO 60
PER CENT OF LAST YEAR'S IMPORTS BECAUSE OF HIGHER
PRICES AND FREIGHT COSTS.
12. OPPOSITION PARTY SPOKESMEN IN ATTACKING
SCHEDULE STATED IT WAS TIME GNZ TACKLED THE FUNDAMEMENTAL
PROBLEM OF REVIEWING BASIC LICENSE ENTITLEMENTS RTHER
THAN CONTINUING CONCEPT OF ACCROSS-THE-BOARD PERCENTAGE
INCREASES BASED ON OUT-OF-DATE TRADING PATTERNS.
13. COPIES OF COMPLETE LICENSING SCHEDULE WITH
EMBASSY COMMENTS BEING POUCHED APRIL 9.
WOOD
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