New Zealand’s topfruit industry has welcomed a final appeal report from the World Trade Organisation confirming its original finding in New Zealand’s favour over access for the country’s apples to its trans-Tasman neighbour Australia.
Pipfruit NZ ceo Peter Beaven said that the WTO decision vindicates New Zealand’s decision to take Australia, its closest trading partner, to a disputes hearing. “Our aim has always been to achieve commercially meaningful access to Australia and we were always confident that our arguments were supported by strong science,” Beaven said. “Now we ask the Australian government to get on with the implementation phase without further delay.”
No apples have been exported to Australian markets since a ban was imposed on New Zealand in 1921. Despite numerous applications supported by scientific research that proved mature apples without symptoms were not a vector for fireblight, Australia’s borders have remained closed to trade. A formal dispute settlement process was commenced by New Zealand at the WTO in 2007.
The WTO appeal decision has upheld the finding that all 16 measures Australia imposed for access for New Zealand apples are inconsistent with Australia’s obligations under international law. The measures included two separate orchard inspections, chlorine in water dumps and inspection of 3,000 pieces of fruit.
Pipfruit NZ chairman Ian Palmer also expressed pleasure at the result. “Many growers in our industry have fought long and hard for this outcome,” Palmer said. “We are happy that soon 20 million Australians and the 500,000 Kiwis living there will have the choice of buying NZ apples.”
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