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\nWine exports are not exempt from the proposed tariffs.
\nPhoto: RNZ\/Sally Round\n<\/p>\n
New Zealand’s primary sector exporters say they are not surprised the United States is trying to increase and maintain import tariffs on foreign goods.<\/p>\n
Most New Zealand exports, except a few, already faced a 10 percent import tariff to the multi-billion-dollar market.<\/p>\n
But with that section 122 tariff set to expire next month, a 12.5 percent tariff was being proposed<\/a> to take its place.<\/p>\n With New Zealand among dozens of countries affected, American officials said it was targeting countries that were not doing enough to prevent forced labour in the supply chain.<\/p>\n Kiwifruit will continue to be exempt from the new tariff, Zespri confirmed on Thursday, as well as beef, timber and offal.<\/p>\n But not wine exports into their top export market, the US.<\/p>\n New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said changing tariffs made it very difficult for wine exporters to plan their shipments and market investment.<\/p>\n “We’re not entirely surprised that the US is looking to find another way to impose blanket tariffs across products,” he said.<\/p>\n “According to the all reports, we’re looking at a 12.5 percent tariff on New Zealand wine going into the US, but we don’t know the timeframe for implementation, or in fact truly if it’s going to be implemented.<\/p>\n “But we presume it will be.”<\/p>\n Gregan said the US tariffs created a lot of uncertainty for the sector.<\/p>\n “There’s been this review going on. We all knew that in all likelihood it was going to lead to more permanent tariffs.”<\/p>\n Dairy, lamb to face new tariff<\/p>\n \nA new tariff was not unexpected by the dairy sector. A new tariff was not unexpected by the dairy sector, already facing the 10 percent and likely to be subject to 12.5 percent.<\/p>\n Kimberly Crewther of the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand said tariffs were never welcome.<\/p>\n “DCANZ agrees with the New Zealand Trade Minister’s [Todd McClay] assessment that this investigation has been aimed at maintaining tariffs in the US, and there has been no finding that forced labour is a feature of New Zealand dairy supply chains,” she said.<\/p>\n She said it was concerned the new tariff proposal would again disadvantage New Zealand exporters over others sending product to the US.<\/p>\n “In particular, the tariffs will not apply to Canadian dairy products exported to the US under the USMCA agreement, meaning our unsubsidised exports are at a significant tariff disadvantage compared with unfairly priced Canadian dairy exports.”<\/p>\n New Zealand beef exports will continue to dodge the US import tariffs, but not lamb.<\/p>\n Beef and Lamb New Zealand chair, Kate Acland said lamb was expected to rise to 12.5 percent from the current 10 percent, though it was not likely to be immediate.<\/p>\n “Certainly we don’t think that this tariff is justified,” she said.<\/p>\n “We’re disappointed at the increase to 12.5 percent, but to be honest we were expecting it could have been worse.”<\/p>\n Acland said many countries were caught up in the situation, but it had nothing to do with New Zealand’s farming practices.<\/p>\n “This is not about New Zealand, this is part of a broader US trade strategy to put tariffs on imports.”<\/p>\n She assured there was no evidence of forced labour in the sector in New Zealand.<\/p>\n The United States spent nearly $7 billion on New Zealand’s food and fibre exports in the year to June, according to Government data.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"FOR](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4O7PFOC_copyright_image_124319.jpeg\")
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\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Rebekah Parsons-King\n<\/p>\n