Prime Minister John Key is insisting that there is no link between the kiwifruit industry's export problems in China and allegations that Beijing is carrying out a "trade war" with New Zealand.
New Zealand's kiwifruit exports to China are temporarily on hold after the country's border authorities found a fungus on the fruit and issued a warning notice.
That came after claims that China could retaliate against New Zealand's dairy and horticulture exporters in response to a potential investigation into alleged Chinese steel dumping in New Zealand.
"I understand the backdrop of the issue but people should be careful about joining dots," Key told reporters at his weekly press conference this afternoon.
Key was asked why China had taken action against Zespri exports at this time, given the fungus had been detected in New Zealand kiwifruit for decades.