Trade Minister Todd McClay says he was told Zespri in China was warned about trade implications against New Zealand companies but dismissed it as "unsubstantiated rumour" after Chinese authorities denied it.
McClay has previously said China had not raised the issue with him, including when he was in China last week for meetings with Chinese trade officials. However, in Indonesia today McClay confirmed when he was in China he was told that "an industry body" had raised concerns with a New Zealand company. "Our Embassy subsequently checked this with Mofcom [China's trade ministry]. They've said that have no knowledge of it and have denied it. So it has been put down to unsubstantiated rumour."
Zespri has now confirmed it was the company in question. One of its representatives in Beijing was given "unsubstantiated information" about the prospect of trade restrictions by China and had passed that on to Embassy officials a fortnight ago. A Zespri spokeswoman said it related to "purported industry consultations related to the import of New Zealand agricultural products" and came from an "industry body". Industry consultations are the prelude to non-tariff trade barriers to slow trade exports.
"Outside of this single communication, Zespri has no further information on this matter and reports that Zespri was called in for a meeting in Beijing or was in some way pressured by the Chinese government are false."
Zespri has previously refused to comment on the media reports that New Zealand exporters had been warned of retaliation if New Zealand authorities pursued a complaint by NZ Steel over China allegedly dumping steel in the New Zealand market.
