Pressure resented by Trade Aid

Press, 16 July 1987, Page 26

Pressure resented by Trade Aid

Trade Aid has reacted strongly to pressure from the three New Zealand coffee giants — Greggs, Bushells and Nestles — who it says have sought to question its successful application for duty concession on Nicaraguan coffee. The three New Zealand companies recently hired a firm of trade consultants to make submissions to the Customs Department in Wellington regarding the importation of the coffee without tariff. Trade Aid has responded by saying that its coffee gives a service to New Zealand consumers by providing a top-grade AA Arabica coffee which is naturally almost totally caffeine-free. It says it is difficult to find a comparable product on the New Zealand market.

The co-ordinator of Trade Aid, Ms Marie Venning, questioned the threat to the New Zealand coffee manufacturers which was claimed by Mr Jules Croft, of the trade consultant’s firm. “We did not seek an unfair advantage over other importers,” she said. “All we wanted was a chance to compete on an equal footing. If large companies such as Greggs, Bushells and Nestles can bring their coffee into New Zealand from developing countries without paying duty, Trade Aid should not be discriminated against." Ms Venning said the only reason her organisation bought its coffee through an official agency based in Europe rather than direct from Nicaragua was the war being waged there.