British trade with EEC a 'fait accompli'
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• With Britain's entry into the Common Market a population of 250 million provides immense opportunities for hauliers in this country if they are able to face up to the present restrictive outlook of the Common Market transport authorities. This was the message contained in a one-day seminar, entitled the "British Haulier in the European Community", held in Southport last week by Mr Maurice Rounding.
Talking to representatives from vehicle manufacturers, French Railways, the Irish Transport Board besides a number of hauliers Mr Rounding made the point that as far as trade was concerned Britain's entry was in fact a fait accompli; already there had been a significant shift in trade from the traditional "Empire" markets to Western Europe and it would not be unreasonable, he thought, for traffic between Britain and Europe to double within five years of entry into the EEC.
The protection of Continental railways and the Rhine was, Mr Rounding suggested, the reason behind the restrictions and strict control of road haulage particularly in France, Germany and Italy and although the issue of "Community Quota" permits was an attempt at unification to allow free movement of road traffic between member countries there was still a grave shortage of available permits.
The use of railways was also discussed with the French Railways K angourou system being described in particular, as well as the services being provided by Inter-Container. For the haulier not yet established in international haulage Holland and Belgium were suggested as good starting points, neither of these countries requiring permits.
The seminar was concluded with a discussion about the attempt to introduce control of road haulage rates between member countries. A rates control might be welcomed by British hauliers, said Mr Rounding, although doubts were expressed about the practicalities of its implementation.