The Michigan Daily-Thursday, June 28, 1979-Page 5 OPEC forges tentative price deal GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) - The world oil cartel barrels a day OPEC's largest producer - would be central dispute was between Saudi Arabia and Iran. forged a tentative deal last night under which $18 a barrel. EARLIER, SEVERAL compromise proposals fell moderates like Saudi Arabia would sell oil at a base The officials said OPEC would set a ceiling of $23.50 through. Abdul Aziz Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, oil cost of $18 a barrel and price radicals would get up to a barrel, including premiums added to the base price minister of Qatar, had said the cartel was close to an $5.50 more including surcharges, conference sources to account for quality differences. accord on putting a ceiling on oil prices of a bit more said. When the formal session adjourned, the cartel had than $20 a barrel but keeping the base price below The new price structure would add about four cents been unable to reach a decision on a uniform base that. a gallon to the U.S. price of gasoline and heating oil. price to charge the world for oil, with Saudi Arabia Meanwhile, in New York, Chief Economist James The preliminary accord was reached shortly after holding out for less than $20 a barrel, a senior O'Leary of the United States Trust Co. said the OPEC ministers of the 13-nation Organization of Petroleum delegate said. increase, when coupled with the world oil shortage Exporting Countries (OPEC) adjourned for the night THE MEETING, originally expected to end which has set in since the Iranian revolution last win- in apparent deadlock over oil price increase. yesterday with agreement on a new price of about ter, "greatly increases the likelihood that the TAUEH ABDUL-KARIM, Iraq's oil minister, and $20 including surcharges, was to resume this mor- recession is going to be more serious." delegates from Libya and the United Arab Emirates ning. Although the new OPEC price should add four cents said the cartel was likely to set a base price for most The senior delegate, who did not want to be iden- to the cost of a gallon of fuel in the United States, the OPEC members of $20 a barrel. The Iraqi minister tified, said the meeting was "nearly deadlocked" price of a gallon of fuel might climb by as much as 15 said the base price for Saudi Arabia - at nine million when it adjourned for the night, and sources said the cents a gallon by year-end . I I 1 S J t t R Carter angry as economic summit opens TOKYO (AP) - President Carter, angered over international criticism of U.S. energy policy, and leaders of six other industrialized nations formally opened an economic summit conferen- ce today, hoping to heal deep divisions over how to handle the world's moun- ting oil crisis. Carter was understood to be deeply angered by French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing's accusation that the United States has done virtually nothing to save oil and relieve the pressure on world oil prices. EVEN AS CARTER and the leaders of Japan, West Germany, France, Great Britain, Canada, and Italy opened their conference at the Akasaka Palace, they learned that the world's major oil exporting nations were about to unleash another major hike in oil prices. The decision by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting in Geneva, Swit- zerland, put additional pressure on the seven summit nations to find a way to reduce oil consumption in the in- dustrialized world. But a U.S. source disclosed that deep differences still existed among summit leaders. Officials of the nations met into the night yesterday, but found no com- ,_F Truck strike violence reported in Michigan From APandUPI Gunmen fired upon a truck near Ben- ton Harbor yesterday in Michigan's fir- st major incident of violence since the start of the independent truckers strike, but the driver escaped injury. But the 400 members of the Michigan chapter of the protesting Independent Truckers Association (ITA) abandoned picket lines and blockades outside truck stops and gasoline depots. A spokesman said most of them simply went home. "TO MY knowledge, there's no real activity going on," said Michigan ITA President Harland Wilcox. "There may be a few pickets here and there, but most of the guys have gone home. The picketing at the truck stops was causing a lot of hard feelings, so the guys are now home." In Lansing, ITA spokesman Martin Reay said the pickets already have ac- complished their major purpose - directing the attention of the public and government leaders to truckers' problems. "We're going to concentrate our ef- forts right here," Reay said. "We've got the ball rolling real good now." THE GUNFIRE shattered the win- dshield on the passenger side of the semi-trailer driven by Paul J. Ding, 59, of South Haven, on I-196 four miles nor- th of the I-94 junction near Benton Har- bor. Prior to the incident, Michigan had escaped most of the strike-associated violence that has plagued other states. See TRUCK, Page 10 AP Photo Carter hugged 17-year-old Japanese high school student Chiharu Yamada in Shimoda, Japan yesterday, after she revealed her admiration for his book, "Why Not the Best." In response, Carter said her English was excellent and she should be working at the United Nations. Carter also autographed her copy of his hook. promise, the source said. THE UNITED States wants specific limits set on the amount of oil each country may import for the rest of this year and next. Other nations, led by West Germany, favor simply an overall reduction target for Europe and a freeze on U.S. imports, which Americans say is unacceptable. However, an administration official said he was certain a compromise would be worked out before the summit closes tomorrow. Meanwhile, it was announced that Carter decided not to vaction in Hawaii and will return directly to the nation's capital Sunday after his visit to South Korea, which follows the summit. ONE AIDE expressed concern about how the president would look relaxing on a beach while Americans waited for gasoline for July 4th holiday travel. "I'd like to spend a few days in Hawaii, but I'd also like to see Jimmy Carter elected," the aide said. On the eve of the fifth economic summit, the participants remained in doubt about the size of an expected in- crease in oil prices. Strike causes drop in local business (Continued from Page 1) across the country to local markets. "As long as the truckers get it to Detroit, we're fine," said Susan LeDuc, employee of Ann Arbor Fruit and Produce Co., 529 Detroit St. "I think everyone is pretty wary," she con- tinued. "Things have been scarce." MANY MERCHANTS say prices have risen already and as a result of the truckers' protest, will continue to rise if the strike does not end. "Prices are speeding way up in the air," said John Sarha, owner of Main Grocery, 207 N. Main St., who reported that business has been down "maybe 10 per cent" since the strike began. Other stores noted business slackening, and said they were worried 'panic buying' might force prices higher and aggravate shortages. Dex- ter Folsom, meat manager of Kroger, 2603 Jackson, said "as of yet" the store hasn't had any problem with shortages. However, if "people start panic buying we could have some problems." He said although he didn't seea major influx of people stocking up on meat and produce, he belived customers were "buying a little early for the fourth of July." Farmer Jack, 2103 W. Stadium Ave., also reported no shortage problems, are both members of large Michigan supermarkets chains. Folsom said Kroger's own drivers transport food to local stores from Kroger warehouses. "Kroger drivers will haul to the store, as long as they have product," he ex- plained. If Kroger trucks can't get produce and meat, stores will be short, he added. Folsom said this week's deliveries arrived on time, but next week the situation may be different. UNCERTAINTY OF future supplies was also expressed by personnel of smaller stores. "We don't know what's going to be tomorrow," said Carlo. "Next week will be the worst." A few of the shipments that normally go by truck are being sent by rail. But some merchants said they had reser- vations about sending food by train. "Rail is not a very good way to ship-too much is lost," said Sam Sch- midt, manager of Steeb Brothers Market, 3707 Washtenaw. The effects of a continuing truckers' strike would be shortages in other mer- chandise, said George White, owner of White's Market, 609 E. William St. "Trucks haul everything-that's it-period," he said.