By MATTHEW VARI
Sunday, April 10, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)
ANTI-DUMPING laws that were removed upon the country’s membership to the World Trade Organization in 1996 are now killing the local companies in the country.
Oro Governor Gary Juffa informed Parliament of what termed as uninformed politicians of the time who were not aware of the ramification the actions now have on the local economy.
“Anti-dumping laws were removed because we agreed that we should remove them when we became a member of the world trade organization,” Juffa told Parliament.
“They were seen as impediments to trade, but in reality they were mechanism that protected our people and businesses.”
“When we removed these laws any company can basically bring whatever they want and sell them here at a significant advantage to them and a significant disadvantage to our companies operating here.”
He said dumping occurred when foreign economies are able to sell their products manufactured in an economy at very reasonable cost to themselves flooding that economy with those products with substantial advantage doe to low cost of product.
“We have allowed them to do that. Who did that? Politicians. Why? Because they were uninformed not knowing what they were doing at that time,” the governor said.
“I have been to many of these agreements and I have been appalled that small countries like Fiji and Samoa and Tonga turned up with their position. Our position was determined usually the night before the agreement was entered into in a bar during a few drinks.”
“I am glad that we now have a minister for trade and commerce who knows what he is doing, who is listening to the technocrats-but he needs all our help.”
He called on the government to protect the country against developers adding that every economy protects its opportunities to grow.
“We must do the same. We have been so friendly; we have been so welcoming allowing everyone and anyone into our house.”
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