Some countries have accumulated large surpluses which, if released on the world markets, could severely damage the export trades of the primary-producing countries, including those of some of the underdeveloped countries which export soft grains. This threat to normal trade in agricultural products was so great that in 1954 CCP established a Consultative Subcommittee on Surplus Disposal (CSD), which meets about once a month in Washington D.C. New Zealand has taken a leading part in the deliberations of CSD. The Committee enables countries to cooperate in the matter of surplus disposals to reduce any possible damage to their international trade.

The work of both committees will probably grow in importance as the General Assembly of the United Nations becomes more acutely aware of the need for measures to divert the surplus production of industrial countries to quicker production and alleviate the desperate want in the less developed countries. Both committees have made and still can make useful contributions to any new scheme initiated in the General Assembly. New Zealand hopes to continue to play its part in both these FAO committees.