Gavan Herlihy National Agriculture Spokesperson

2 February 2001

Govt must fight US appeal tooth and claw

The Government must finish what National started by actively fighting the United States appeal against the WTO's decision on lamb import quota and tariff restrictions, National's Agricultural spokesperson Gavan Herlihy said today.

The US has lodged an appeal with the World Trade Organisation against a ruling that America had broken trade rules by imposing tariffs on Australian and New Zealand lamb.

"The Government must fight tooth and claw against this appeal.

"National decided our lamb export industry was worth too much to sit back and accept the US decision to impose tariffs so we took the matter to the WTO. The WTO's ruling in our favour vindicated our actions.

"It is now up to the Labour Government to fight the US appeal so free trade is restored for our farmers," Mr Herlihy said.

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