News

An Update from Export NZ

We understand that recent US trade policy is causing uncertainty and making it hard for businesses to make decisions and plan.

It is often hard to keep track of rapidly-evolving situation in the US and understand exactly how your businesses may be impacted.

As of today, 12th June 2025, the current status of New Zealand exports to the US are as follows:

A 10% additional tariff applies to most New Zealand goods entering the US, on top of US tariffs which existed before 3 April, as per Executive Order 14257.
- After a ’90-day pause’ on the higher tariffs on 56 countries/economies was announced on 9 April, the same tariff currently applies to US imports from almost all countries, with the exception of:
- China (mostly 30% additional tariff)
- Canada and Mexico (0% under the US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement [USMCA], 25% outside USMCA; sectoral tariffs apply)
  It is not clear what will happen at the end of the 90-day ‘pause’ for countries whose ‘reciprocal tariff’ was above 10%.
The MFAT Tariff Finder has been updated to set out the total tariffs applicable to New Zealand goods exported to the US, for each US tariff line. It specifies, on a tariff line basis, whether the 10% additional tariff applies, or a 25% -50% sector-specific tariff, or the tariff line is currently exempt from additional tariffs (noted below). Please contact us with any questions.
Current exceptions to the 10% additional tariff are as follows (as set out in Sec. 3(b) of Executive Order 14257):
- a 50% additional sectoral tariff applies to imports of steel (see list of HS codes here) and aluminium (see list of HS codes here) including products and derivatives; as well as an additonal 25% sectoral tariff on automobiles and some automobile parts, instead of the additional 10% tariff.
- Products currently exempt from the 10% additional tariff are: copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber/timber, certain critical minerals, and energy and energy products listed in Annex II of Executive Order 14257, plus the additional semiconductor-related products specified by tariff code in Presidential Memorandum of 11 April, ‘Clarification of Exceptions Under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, as Amended’.
  - Please note that these products may be subject to sector-specific tariffs in future; the US has already commenced national security investigations into:
  - Copper (in all forms)
  - Timber, lumber, and derivative products
  - Processed critical minerals and derivative products
  - Pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients
  - Semiconductors and semiconductor-manufacturing equipment
  - Trucks
  - Commercial aircraft, engines and parts
There have been no changes to shipments of low value/de minimis goods from New Zealand – these are still eligible to enter the US duty free if valued under US$800.
However, the US has removed the de minimis exemption for Chinese goods since 2 May, and instead, a 54% tariff (or a US$100 fee) applies per shipment.