Families Suffer Higher Prices As Govt. Digs Its Toes In Over Tariffs

The Government has again hit families in the hip pocket with its refusal to reconsider the freeze on tariff cuts, National's International Trade spokesperson John Luxton said today.

"I welcome the Retail Merchants Association's plea to the Commerce Minister to get the tariff cuts back on track to offset the rising prices caused by the fall of the Kiwi dollar.

"Most New Zealanders are worried about the rising prices of goods. There's a feeling that everything is going up and it's getting harder to make ends meet.

"The Government can take a simple step to ease the burden on household budgets by getting on with the programme of tariff cuts started by National.

"It would mean cheaper prices for clothes and shoes.

"The Commerce Minister has been meeting with retailers at their conference in Auckland today.

"The clear message from almost everyone is to think again about the tariff freeze, and lift some of the pressure off family budgets," Mr Luxton said.

"The Commerce Minister must show some empathy for ordinary New Zealand families and re-consider the tariff freeze."

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