Growers to fight anti-dumping changes

Heinz Wattie's managing director Mike Pretty is encouraging orchardists to lobby the Government to preserve the country's anti-dumping regime. Photo / Paul Taylor

Orchardists are mobilising against a proposed relaxation of anti-dumping measures threatening the local canning industry.

Heinz Wattie's managing director Mike Pretty attended an end of season awards evening last week, giving growers an outline of how to lobby against the change and distributing email addresses of politicians.

Cabinet has agreed in principle to change New Zealand's anti-dumping regime, under which anti-dumping action would only be taken if damage was proven.

The proposed change follows the removal of duties and tariffs on imported building materials announced in last year's Budget.

The rationale behind it was a mystery, Mr Pretty said.

"I'm embarrassed to say I don't know, because I can't understand why they are doing it when they already have a framework in place," he said.

Wattie's was not concerned about competition, it was the preventing illegal dumping and protecting the viability of Hawke's Bay orchards it was worried about, he said.

Dumping is illegal under the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Anti-Dumping and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

Last month the Government identified a shipment of Greek peaches that fitted dumping criteria - it was to be sold for less in New Zealand than the price charged on the home market.

Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule also addressed the meeting.

"At a time when my council is doing everything it can to create jobs, the last thing we are going to do is stand by and allow some regulatory change to compromise Hastings jobs," he said.

"Wattie's are genuinely trying to identify an issue here that not only potentially will impact on you but impact on them. If that happens it impacts on all of us.

"This is about actually looking after your businesses, the people you employ, your livelihoods and the rest of it. That is the argument we have to raise."

He said he was happy to use his contacts as president of Local Government New Zealand to lobby the Government.

Mr Yule told Hawke's Bay Today he had spoken to several Government ministers and was "quietly confident" the issue could be resolved with strong advocacy.

"I have made it a priority for my time," he said.

Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers Association president Lesley Wilson said it could be devastating.

"The peach industry would not be able to cope with just one year of not being able to sell their fruit - the margins are way too tight," she said.

"We are quite happy competing against the rest of the world, we just don't want to be subject to dumping."

Grower Nigel Cooper said the canning industry was an integral part of orcharding, with many growing other fruits despite high apple prices.

"We can't have all our eggs in one basket," he said.