The textile, clothing and footwear union in New Zealand has welcomed the government's decision to continue the freeze on unilateral tariff reductions by postponing its tariff review for another four years.
"Given the Thailand, China and ASEAN 'free' trade agreements allow NZ to continue with tariffs on TCF [textile, clothing and footwear] imports until 2016, it is sensible that any unilateral elimination of tariffs by NZ does not occur before this date. This will give companies ten more years from 2006 to adjust to zero tariffs as first proposed by the National Part," said the union's general secretary.
