Peak industry body for vegetable growers, Ausveg, is calling upon the Federal Government to invest tariffs collected from ‘illegally dumped’ Italian tomatoes into affected local industry.
A similar program is currently in place in the United States, and Ausveg together with independent senator, Nick Xenophon say that the investment of these tariffs back into the industry would serve as a practical alternative to government funding for affected processors such as SPC Ardmona and Simplot, The Weekly Times Now reports.
William Churchill, Ausveg public affairs manager said that processors and growers need a level playing field to compete, a view echoed by Xenophon who has promised to introduce a private members’ bill.
"If a company is being hurt by dumped products, it's only fair it gets the duties collected by government," said Xenophon.
"This could give the government a revenue stream to assist industry that wouldn't be seen as direct assistance."
The Anti-Dumping Commission last week announced that it had increased the tariff for “uncooperative exporters” to 26.35 percent, a move welcomed by both growers and industry.