Consumer test planned for anti-dumping duties in New Zealand

WELLINGTON, June 8 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand consumer interests will be taken into account before duties are slapped on dumped or subsidized products at the border, under a new law introduced to the Parliament Wednesday.

"The consumer test will weigh up the benefits of at-the-border duties on dumped products and subsidized goods, against the costs to users of the product," Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith said in a statement.

"Goods are considered dumped if the export price to New Zealand is less than the price they are sold for in their own home market. A duty or a financial penalty is imposed on those unfairly priced products which harm New Zealand manufacturers."

By introducing a public interest test, the regime could consider if consumers were benefiting from lower prices, more choice, availability and quality and whether this outweighed the effect on industry.

"This Bill will strike a balance between encouraging competition while protecting manufacturers from unfair pricing practices," said Goldsmith.