The decision today by the Minister of Consumer Affairs to decline to impose a safeguard measure on imported aluminium extrusions flooding the market is a serious backward step.
We are in the election restraint period and no decisions such as this should even be contemplated until after the election.
The decision leaves NZ companies using aluminium extrusions with no trade remedy against many inferior products being imported and those imports being sharply on the rise.
Tiwai Point makes the finest aluminium in the world, and there is no reason for New Zealand to allow the importation of inferior product, particularly when health and safety issues are involved.
The aluminium industry in New Zealand is being seriously damaged - imports are up 34% just this year alone and much of it due to the lack of safeguards of the quality of the product being imported.
While other countries have acted to ensure a fair market for their products like the US Canada , UK, European Union, and Australia - New Zealand has taken the opposite action.
Thousands of New Zealand jobs are at stake in Hamilton, New Plymouth and Wellington.
The supply chain to local fabricators and such is being threatened - as is our sovereign capability.
New Zealand has nine aluminium extrusion pressers serving the country and all of them are now at risk.