Anti Dumping Rules Civilised

Anti-dumping rules are a sign that New Zealand values investment in productive enterprise and the jobs it creates, the Employers & Manufacturers (Northern) says.

The association supports the placing of dumping duties on the Korean whiteware in the case brought by Fisher & Paykel though the company is not an EMA member.

"Contrary to what Daniel Silva of the Importers' Institute says, there's nothing dumb about anti-dumping rules," said Alasdair Thompson, EMA's chief executive.

"They're a mark of a civilised market, not a wild west one.

"There's even merit in belonging to the WTO which requires these rules regardless of its pathetic record with the export products New Zealand still largely depends on.

"Anti-dumping rules are here to protect New Zealanders from the extremism of some importers who want to take us back to the underbelly of New Zealand's pioneering past, the spirit that wiped out the moa, put seals and whales on the endangered lists, replaced large tracts of kauri with grass and tried to build a future through exploitative, rather than sustainable business.

"Before we can argue sensibly about the adequacy of New Zealand's savings record, and our misdirected investment, it seems we still need to agree on the cornerstones for a business environment that encourages growth. This has to include civilised rules for competing intensely but fairly in our market, otherwise investment and jobs simply won't happen."

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