Kiwi exporters are continuing to lose millions of dollars in Chinese sales as a result of Fonterra's botulism fiasco, says Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett.
A delegation of baby milk exporters led by Barnett, who chairs the New Zealand Infant Formula Exporters Association, will travel to China at the end of this month and meet with Chinese officials, distributors and retailers in Shanghai and Beijing with the aim of "rebuilding trust".
Barnett said exporters were the collateral damage of the debacle and the result for many was that their businesses in China had "ceased".
"I am aware of businesses that are losing millions of dollars each month, so we urgently need to see a change in trust and confidence for the New Zealand brand," he said.
"Our people on the ground in China report that European brands now see an opportunity to challenge New Zealand's premium position as suppliers and are incentivising Chinese buyers to change."