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CTU pushed for deferral of tariff review
CTU MEDIA RELEASE 22 April 2008
CTU pushed for deferral of tariff review
The Council of Trade Unions today welcomed the announcement that import tariffs will be held at their 1 July 2009 levels until 30 June 2011.
Peter Conway, CTU Economist, said that the CTU and a number of unions had raised with the Government concerns about any further unilateral reductions in tariffs.
"One of the problems New Zealand faces is that severe reductions in tariffs on a unilateral basis have not only damaged industry but reduced any negotiation leverage in subsequent trade negotiations".
"The CTU campaigned against the removal of tariffs in the post-2005 review."
"The announcement of a deferral of any consideration of a review to mid-2009 is an effective freeze and is good news."
"Tariffs alone will not support a strong manufacturing sector in New Zealand," Peter Conway said. "What is needed now is continued investment in skills and technology to underpin value-added manufacturing, and a monetary policy framework that does not result in excessively high interest rates and speculation on the dollar driving up exchange rates".
ENDS
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Te Kauae Kaimahi
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.
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