March 20, 2012

New Zealand to confront China counterpart on dairy export tariffs

The Chinese counterpart may be confronted by New Zealand's Trade Minister on the increasing use of tariffs on New Zealand dairy exports.

Information obtained by Radio New Zealand shows the level of dairy exports hit by penalty tariffs from China reached a record level last year.

Booming demand for imported dairy products has triggered the tariffs which are legal under the free trade deal with China and are not due to be fully phased out till 2020.

But the Trade Minister, Tim Groser, says he may raise the issue on a trade mission to Beijing this week.