Aust. clamp on $2m export 'alarming’

Press, 17 November 1976, Page 3

Aust. clamp on $2m export 'alarming’

PA Wellington Australia’s decision toincrease the tariff on ini- j ports of New Zealand) leather wallets from a) preferential rate of 6) i.per cent to a uniform 25 j per cent for all suppliers! was in distinct contrast! I to the Australian Gov- . erament’s recent reaffirmation of N.A.F.T.A., (the Minister of Trade and Industry (Mrj Adams-Schneider) said: .(yesterday. ■I ' “The conclusions of the! (Australian Industries Assist-!

ance Commission, on which I this decision was based, just ido not stand up to scrutiny,” jhe said in a statement. “Imiports from New Zealand | were not causing harm to the iAustralian industry. 1 “This decision, however, jwil] do severe damage to a !S2M export business, careIfully developed with quality (products. The New Zealand company concerned has a commitment to the Australian market which the Australian decision puts in jeopardy. I “I am most .disturbed at 'this decision. There are a number of possibilities foi I rationalisation between the I two leathergoods industries, land some of these have been !explored with the Australian

11 authorities.” Mr Adamsf(Schneider said. '! "This is the route which 1 ■'Australia should have fol- ; 1; lowed, rather than to have imposed a duty increase of ! ;the magnitude we have here, It which must be seen as in- ( tended to piMtibit New Zea- I . land’s exports. i “That is not what t i N.A F.T.A. is intended to i J achieve, and coming so soon < . after both Governments had s .(agreed to extend N.A.F.T.A. i i for 10 years, and to place the , ! preferences agreement on a j ■ more enduring basis. I find j i(the action most alarming.” , The Minister said he had r ,!been in contact personally . ( with his Australian counter- ‘ j I part “and it is my intention 1 ! to continue to work with him ' Ito see whether some im- c iprovements can be forged. We certainly will not let the r 'matter rest here.” t