New Zealand bracing for potential increase in Donald Trump’s tariffs, Trade Minister says

New Zealand is bracing for a potential small increase in US President Donald Trump’s tariffs to 12.5 percent, Trade Minister Todd McClay says.

McClay told reporters at Parliament, New Zealand did not have that particular concern.

“We haven’t got wildfires here and I don’t think the smoke from Canada will reach us,” he said.

“However, when the courts of the US found that the 15 percent he had imposed on New Zealand and others was illegal, they put 10 percent in for 150 days.”

“We expect during the course of this week it’s probably going back to 12.5 percent, which ironically is lower than it was before the court found he didn’t use the right legal base but still unhelpful.”

McClay said New Zealand would not impose tariffs on Australia if bushfire smoke drifted across the Tasman, “because I don’t think it would help put out the fire”.