PM Transcripts

PRfIME MINISTER Press Statement No. 89
8 May 1973
STRATEGIC EXPORT CONTROLS
The Government has taken a decision on a
report by Departments on the question of strategic
export controls over commercial trade.
It has been decided that Australia will no
longer maintain on commercial trade with the U. S. S. R.,
Eastern Europe, China, North Korea, North Viet-Nam and
Cuba, restraints different from the restraints on
commercial trade maintained on any other country.
The controls which have been maintained by
Australia have not proved, in recent years, to have
much relevance to our production and it has therefore
been decided to treat trade with all countries on a
similar basis. It is well known that controls by other
western countries have been progressively reduced and
the United States and European countries are selling
highly sophisticated material to the communist countries.
We have notified a number of our closest
friends of this decision and assured them that Australia
will not be a means towards circumventing any controls
which they may maintain over their own production.
This decision has no bearing on the controls
which are-maintained by Australia over the export of
arms and war-like stores and a+ tomic energy material.
The embargo on trade with North Viet-Nam is
being removed and we consider this is appropriate in
view of the establishment of relations with that
country.
CANBERRA, A. C. T.