Zespri has adamantly denied that the Chinese government has pressured it in any way over claims relating to steel dumping in New Zealand.
Earlier this week, a number of New Zealand media outlets reported the county’s kiwifruit, dairy and wool industries were threatened with 'retaliatory measures' if an investigation into an apparent glut of cut-price Chinese steelimports was pursued. One report alleged the threats came from China's Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Trade Policy (Mofcom).
In a company statement, Zespri confirmed its local staff in China had received unsubstantiated information from an industry body in China on purported industry consultations related to the import of NewZealand agricultural products. Zespri passed on this information by email in line with its regular engagement with New Zealand Embassy officials in China.
“Outside of this single communication, Zespri has no further information on this matter and reports that Zespri was called in for a meeting in Beijing or was in some way pressured by the Chinese government are false,” Zespir’s statement read. “This is being dealt with at a government-to-government level and we have full confidence in both the New Zealand and Chinese governments on this issue.”
Zespri is also meeting with relevant quarantine authorities after the Tianjin Entry-Exit Inspection Bureau intercepted two consignments of New Zealand-grown kiwifruit. The company believes the interception relates to a technical matter and is part of the routine border clearance process, with export programmes to China continuing as usual.
The New Zealand kiwifruit marketer said its business in China benefits from a “deep and mature” relationship between the two countries across both government and business.
“Our 2016 selling season continues as normal and we’re on track to grow our China business by one-third this season, making it our number-one market with sales to reach around NZ$500m,” Zespri explained.
