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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

France Vows To Halt Australian Imports Confrontation Escalates Over Plans For Nuclear Tests

Associated Press

Escalating its confrontation with Australia over French nuclear tests planned for the south Pacific, France on Thursday threatened to cancel imports of Australian coal and uranium.

The French Foreign Ministry announced “a first series of measures” to counter what it called Australia’s “discriminatory practices” toward France.

France is to resume testing of nuclear weapons at Mururoa Atoll in French Polynesia next month after a three-year moratorium. The decision has provoked vociferous opposition from environmental activists and the governments of several countries, including Australia and New Zealand.

Australia, citing the decision to resume nuclear testing, this week dropped the French arms manufacturer Dassault from a list of candidates vying for a multimillion-dollar contract to replace Australia’s aging fleet of trainer jets.

“France will seek a ruling of the World Trade Organization for violations of agreements that govern international trade,” the French statement said.

French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette said in an interview with Australian television broadcast Thursday that while he could understand Australians disagreeing with France’s decision to resume testing, the official reaction was “hard hostility.”

The French statement said France will “re-examine contracts to import Australian coal,” and that “France is ready to end its purchases of uranium in Australia, if the government of that country requests it.”

Australia’s acting foreign minister, Bob McMullan, on Friday downplayed the seriousness of threatened trade sanctions against Australia.

McMullan, who is also trade minister, said his government was seeking further information from France.