New reports in the US claim that the country's administration has had its head turned by Turners & Growers' (T&G) ongoing campaign against the Zespri-lead single-desk export system for kiwifruit in New Zealand.
The US government has reportedly asked the World Trade Organisation (WTO) why Zespri, as the country's sole kiwifruit exporter outside of Australasia, has been accused of abusing its monopoly by a competitor, 3 News reported.
A statement, delivered to the WTO by the US and obtained by 3 News, said: 'We request that New Zealand please provide information on why a key player in the New Zealand kiwifruit industry had to file legal proceedings in relation to collaborative marketing arrangements.
'We request that New Zealand please expand on the court documents alleging anti-competitive behaviour and abuse of Zespri's dominant position.'
Zespri was awarded single-desk export status in 1999 following anindustry restructure, meaning only Zespri or New Zealand exporters withcollaborative contracts can sell kiwifruit in export markets outside ofAustralia.
The single-desk system has been in place in the country's kiwifruitindustry since 1987, having been introduced by growers to combatperceived overseas undercutting by exporters that in turn reducedorchard returns.
Alongside the court order against Zespri, the T&G campaign to abolish the current single-desk export system has included the creation of a dedicated website, the mailing of documents to growers and the release of a special report entitled 'How good a job is Zespri actually doing?'.
'I believe the time has come to change this outdated monopoly,' said T&G chairman TonyGibbs earlier in the year. 'Offshore retailers are crying out for alternatives and now thatTurners & Growers has its own green, gold and red varieties we arein a position to become, once again, a major force in the kiwifruitindustry.'
However, Zespri has dismissed action by T&G as a publicity stunt.
“At the same time they served us, they sent out pressreleases to everyone,” Zespri CEO Lain Jager told Fruitnet.com earlier this year.
'Obviously the publicity is part of their campaign to destabiliseand deregulate the industry,' he added. 'It seems they’re suingeveryone about everything. It's a scattergun approach.'
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