Plea for Balance in China Debate

Executive Director: David Catty 大卫 凯特 执行董事

22August 2007

MEDIA RELEASE

Plea for Balance in China Debate

China has become our second biggest overseas supplier after Australia and about $5 billion of mostly consumer goods - electronics, textiles and footwear the most prominent - are eagerly purchased by New Zealanders revelling in the abundant choice of brands and in particular in the competitive price ranges available.

The huge majority of these imports come in with perfectly acceptable quality standards from all sectors of the market without repercussion.

“This is part of everyday commerce, part of consumerism, part of globalism, inescapable and totally beneficial to our wellbeing.” said NZCTA Chairman, Stuart Ferguson.

“China to some extent has become a victim of its own success” he continued, “and the increase in reports of noteworthy product failures probably to some extent relates to its increasing presence in the marketplaces of developed countries.”

This creates backlashes from previously protected competitors, the promoting of agendas from politicians , seeking easy votes, and the unravelling of underlying xenophobia.

The reality is that our open economy leaves us susceptible to quality issues not only from China but from anywhere we seek to purchase – not overlooking Australia and, of course, New Zealand itself.

“For instance,” cited Ferguson, “the standard and cost of local produce available in an Auckland supermarket last week was disgraceful and certainly would not have passed muster in any equivalent outlet in China!”

Importers, retailers and border authorities have every reason to ensure quality assessment procedures from any source are watertight or the backlash will come from the consumer, who nowadays has choice. Caveat emptor is an obsolete concept.

“We don’t attempt to defend the indefensible but we do ask for a sense of balance, concluded Ferguson. “The media reporting it should not be too eager to jump on bandwagons.”

ENDS

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