New Zealand has imposed punitive duties of up to 164 per cent on imports of diaries and a range of stationery from China and Malaysia following complaints of unfair competition by a local manufacturer, it was announced on Wednesday. Croxley Stationery asked the Ministry of Economic Development for protection, saying the Asian imports were being dumped in the New Zealand market and causing material injury to the domestic industry. Under international trading law, dumping occurs when products are exported at a lower price than that charged in the country of manufacture. Croxley Stationery initiated two anti-dumping proceedings after Asian exporters began selling an assortment of stationery in New Zealand in 2003. New duties range from 5 per cent to 164 per cent for diaries and up to 73 per cent for school and commercial stationery. Croxley said the average on diaries from China and Malaysia was over 40 per cent. dpa db jh