September 2 2015

Dumping of Cheap Imports Will Hit Jobs And Business

Swamping New Zealand with cheap goods will hit manufacturing and business hard, says New Zealand First.

“The government has ignored pleas from business against dumping of goods that will be sold at a lower price than in the country of origin,” says Trade and Commerce Spokesperson Fletcher Tabuteau.

“This is totally unfair to New Zealand business and workers. We are appalled. We are already a tariff-free country, we lead the world in that.

“Heavily discounted goods may sound good for consumers but they will do nothing for the country but harm, further damaging business and manufacturing and leading to more jobs cuts.

“Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Paul Goldsmith has announced that before imposing duties on ‘dumped’ products a consumer welfare test will now be added. This is just window dressing. Most goods will pass the supposed consumer welfare test.

“Allowing countries with extremely low wages, cheap compliance costs and lower overall manufacturing costs to dump in New Zealand makes no sense.

“How can business make investment decisions with the fear of foreign firms dumping product.

“National wants Kiwis to buy cheap and forget quality - will they throw out all our standards next week too?” says Mr Tabuteau.

ENDS

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