Angry sheep farmers target US diplomats

By Philippa Stevenson

Hundreds of sheep farmers plan to take to Auckland and Wellington streets tomorrow to send a protest message to Uncle Sam.

The two-hour rallies outside the United States Consulate, in central Auckland, and the embassy, in Wellington, come the week President Clinton will decide whether to impose tariffs and other trade restrictions on lamb imports.

The chairman of Federated Farmers meat and wool section, Chris Lester, said the protests would be orderly, despite farmers' anger at the threat to the $120 million trade.

"If serious tariffs are applied to imports of lamb from New Zealand and Australia in the US it will effectively close down the market for us," he said.

Mr Lester, who will lead the Auckland protest and hand a letter to the US consul-general, said farmers would be on foot and did not want to be violent or obstructive.

Federated Farmers president Malcolm Bailey is expected to lead the Wellington rally and present an identical letter to the ambassador.

The messages are expected to point out the absurdity of the US imposing trade barriers when many of its leaders voice support for free trade.

The letters are also likely to highlight the substantial trade surplus the US has with New Zealand, and the impact that restrictions would have on the American image at the Apec meeting in Auckland in September, and the World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle in November.

The two protest groups also plan to give leaflets to people on the streets explaining the reason for the protest, thanking supporters and expressing the hope "that our demonstration causes you no inconvenience."

Mr Lester said sheep farmers unable to get to the rallies were making their protests known to the White House by e-mail and fax.

International Trade Minister Lockwood Smith is due back this morning from Budapest, where he met US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky at the weekend.

Dr Smith, who put an anti-tariff message to the influential US official with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer, is expected to report the result of the meeting later today.

Mr Lester said Federated Farmers would also meet Prime Minister Jenny Shipley today but would not add its voice to the Meat Board's call for her to contact President Clinton personally.

Meanwhile, one of the main exporters of New Zealand lamb to the US, Affco, says it will keep pursuing the valuable market even if tariffs are imposed.

Chief executive Ross Townshend said the US took 30,000 tonnes of New Zealand product against Europe's 230,000 tonnes.

"We just need to be there. We are too dependent on Europe and building the American market is of strategic importance."

Mr Townshend said he was banking on the President's opting for the least punitive measures recommended by the US International Trade Commission after an appeal by the American Sheep Industry Association for help for its struggling members.