He also implied that the visit was to redress the balance in Australia's international outlook. Most Australians still regard our relationship with Britain as the most important. Claridge's is playing host to the majority of Mr Howard's official party, which includes Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, Australian Democrats leader Meg Lees, five state leaders and four former PMs - John Gorton, Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke. He told a group of about 40 UK food buyers, including representatives of some of Britain's biggest supermarkets, that Pink Lady apples were an exciting prospect for European markets. But Austrade commissioners have been lamenting recent falls in horticultural exports to Europe.
Officials warn of looming disaster.
With Europe's supermarket giants now investing heavily in Asia, they fear buyers could take with them cheaper food suppliers from Africa and South America. The Age Company Ltd 2000. Any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.