12 November 2001

Sutton dreaming over China's entry into WTO

Green co-leader Rod Donald today said by accepting China into its ranks the WTO has said to the world that boosting trade is more important than pressuring China to stop exploiting child labour and ending human rights violations.

"No amount of tariff liberalisation is going to change the fact that China makes 13 million children as young as 10 work full time and is guilty of a wide range of human rights violations, including forcing political prisoners to work in factories and persecuting the people of Tibet," said Mr Donald.

Mr Donald said Jim Sutton was dreaming if he thought making trade with China even freer and removing import tariffs was going to make a significant dent in the trade deficit with China.

"Imports from China have grown by 26 per cent in the year to September, creating a record $1 billion trade deficit. This is New Zealand's eleventh consecutive trade deficit with China.

"Not only is China's entry into the WTO going to make it easier for cheap imported goods to flood into New Zealand, it also gives tacit support to China's abusive labour practices and poor working conditions."

ENDS

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