The Prime Minister appears either unwilling or unable to tell Shane Jones to pull his head in on the issue of agricultural subsidies, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“ACT has raised serious questions about whether Provincial Growth Fund payments meet World Trade Organisation rules.

“RNZ put those questions to Jacinda Ardern today. She did an admirable job of avoiding them.

“But the legitimacy of the payments aside, Jones’ cavalier attitude to our trading arrangements is shocking.

“We are a small, open economy, heavily dependent on our trading relationships and international reputation.

“The Regional Economic Development Minister’s attitude should make our agricultural sector nervous. Their livelihoods are on the line.

“It doesn’t need Jones’ ‘bull in a China shop’ approach.

“Jacinda Ardern is clearly nervous about publicly, or even privately, pulling NZ First into line given how dependent her position is on their votes.

“It would be a real shame if politics came before country on an issue as important as trade.”

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