Lamb case should be taken to WTO --- Owen Jennings

Wednesday 16th Jun 1999
Owen Jennings
Media Release -- Economy

ACT Rural Spokesman Owen Jennings today said New Zealand farmers should not
roll over and accept US trade sanctions against New Zealand lamb. ôThis is
unthinkably bad. It is outrageous that the US is even considering imposing
sanctions on our lamb. If the MinisterÆs predictions are right that a 9%
tariff will be imposed on current levels of New Zealand and Australian lamb and
a 40% tariff on lamb imports above current levels we must move the moment
Clinton signs that order to take the case to the WTO. ôNew Zealand does have
strong recourse through the WTO Process under GATT. ôNew Zealand farming
families are battlers, they wonÆt give up. We have right on our side and New
Zealand would have a principled and powerful case to put before the WTO.

ôIf New Zealand lodged a complaint with the WTO, the WTO would appoint a panel
of three countries to adjudicate and would then make a recommendation back to
the WTO.

ôTaking our case to the WTO would deliver a strong message to the Clinton
Administration that we take free trade extremely seriously and will not sit
quietly by and let tariffs be imposed on our exports. ôIf the US puts tariffs
in place it will set a worrying precedent for all New Zealand exports going
into the US market and we must do everything we can on this case to prevent
similar sanctions being imposed on other exports,ö said Owen Jennings.

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