Thursday, 03 April 2025 12:38

NZ interests best served when trade flows freely - McClay

Written by  Staff Reporters
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay. Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.

Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand's trade interests are best served in a world where trade flows freely.

His comments follow the announcement from US President Donald Trump that New Zealand would face a 10% tariff on goods entering the United States.

"While this is a significant development, New Zealand remains competitive against other exporters in the U.S. market," McClay says.

He says tariffs have consequences for the global economy, impacting inflation, demand, currency stability, and economic growth.

"While these tariffs create additional costs that will largely be passed on to consumers, New Zealand is in a stronger position than many other countries, some who are facing higher tariff barriers," McClay says. "This reinforces the importance of our work to create new trade opportunities and reduce barriers for our exporters in the EU, UK, UAE, GCC and most recently India."

McClay says New Zealand's bilateral relationship with the United States is still strong.

"We will be talking with the Administration to get more information, and our exporters to better understand the impact this announcement will have," he adds.

"We will continue to advocate for a rules-based trading system."

More like this

Editorial: Trump's Tirade

OPINION: "We are back to where we were a year ago," according to a leading banking analyst in the UK, referring to US president Donald Trump's latest imposition of a global 10% tariff on all exports into the US.

Featured

Lincoln Student Awarded Dairy Scholarship

The South Island Dairy Event has announced Jessica Findlay as the recipient of the BrightSIDE Scholarship Programme, recognising her commitment to furthering her education and future career in the New Zealand dairy industry.

Bridge Pā Table Grape Harvest Starts Weeks Early

Budou are being picked now in Bridge Pā, the most intense and exciting time of the year for the Greencollar team – and the harvest of the finest eating grapes is weeks earlier than expected.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Penny Pinching

OPINION: A mate of yours truly reckons rural Manawatu families are the latest to suffer under what he calls the…

New Order

OPINION: If old Winston Peters thinks building trade relations with new nations, such as India, isn't a necessary investment in…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter