Threat to sales in East Germany
Page 60

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• British Leyland's hopes of selling further fleets of its Super Reiver 20 trucks and Mammoth series of tractive units as an alternative to the Leyland-engineci Polish trucks which East Germany is now buying may be threatened by the reluctance of the UK Government to change its attitude to trade and travel between the two countries.
This was claimed last week at Leipzig where Mr. Ian Mikardo, MP, whose export company represents British Leyland and other large concerns at East European trade fairs, said it was impossible to create a climate of full trading confidence under the present arrangements. An assurance of continuity in the supply of spares is not possible under the present short-term annual trade agreements.
It is widely held in East Germany that the UK Government is either sticking too closely to the letter of the law on trading formalities in contrast to EEC countries which allow free access by East German businessmen, with resultant orders—or that the Bonn Government, with an axe to grind, is pressing the UK Government not to ease the restrictions.