Thursday 8th July

President Clinton's decision to impose tariffs on New Zealand lamb is a huge blow to the United States credibility on free trade according to ACT Agriculture Spokesman Owen Jennings.

Owen Jennings said it will be particularly galling for New Zealand farmers that not only has Clinton slapped on tariffs but he is also promising $190 million in aid for US farmers.

"New Zealand Farmers have shown the initiative in the US market, they have the best quality product and are competing on a fair and equal basis with US lamb producers. Rather than bleating to the Government US sheep farmers should have got off their backsides and worked harder to compete.

"Clinton's interference is a real kick in the guts for New Zealand farmers who have succeeded on their own merits without spoon feeding from the Government.

"Farmers are left wondering why Clinton is penalising exporters who are embracing his free trade message.

"The decision by the US today to impose tariffs on New Zealand lamb is unfair and unjust. The US must be made to defend their decision before the WTO. Although we are only a small country we have equal clout at the WTO and would have a very strong case.

"We have to fight this decision to stop the US from imposing tariffs on other New Zealand exports," said Owen Jennings.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>