Fed: Union says reducing tariffs makes no sense at all

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2008
Fed: Union says reducing tariffs makes no sense at all

CANBERRA, Aug 15 AAP - Reducing tariffs on Australian-made passenger cars does not
make any sense, the union representing manufacturing industry workers says.

The Bracks car industry review, released publicly today, recommends reducing tariffs
on passenger motor vehicles from 10 per cent to five per cent by 2010.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union said no other vehicle-building country
in the world was considering lowering tariffs on their locally-made cars.

"We need to understand that Steve Bracks made his recommendations prior to the collapse
of Doha (round of world trade talks)," national secretary Dave Oliver said.

"It makes no sense at all, given Doha (the collapse of world trade talks), the global
financial crisis and the issue of climate change to consider reducing tariffs.

"China, India, Malaysia are not doing it and neither are Canada and the European Union."

The union did welcome other aspects of the review, saying it was good to have a plan
for the automotive industry especially at a time when there was a government supportive
of the manufacturing sector.

AAP r/jlw/bwl

KEYWORD: CAR AMWU

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