West German Chancellor Ludwig Erhard told the National Press Club today that West Germany has been trying to improve trade relations with Israel, and indicated that he favored broadening of the European Common Market to give Israel associate membership. West Germany is one of Euromart’s six members.
Mr. Erhard commented in response to a question that sought to elicit his views on broadening of the Common Market and whether Bonn would support Israeli associate membership.
The chancellor said the West German position had always been that his Government wanted to take other parties into the Common Market. He termed the failure of negotiation to admit Britain into the E.E.C. “tragic.” He noted that Denmark and Norway want admission, and that he is pleased about this prospect. The president of the Common Market, he said, agreed with him on the concept of widening membership.
Mr. Erhard said West Germany had been trying to work out trade arrangements with Israel, better than those heretofore in existence. He said there was definitely a possibility of closer German-Israeli association in the future.
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