Australia says grain curb to Soviet Union to remain

Australia said Tuesday it would maintain curbs on grain exports to the Soviet Union next year in support of President Carter's sanctions over Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Primary Industry Minister Peter Nixon said grain sales to the Soviet Union would be limited to 3.9 million tons in the 1980-81 financial year, about the same level as the current year.

However, figures released last week by Reuters showed Australian wheat sales to the Soviet Union had increased 11 times in the nine months up to March this year, compared with the same period last year.