increase font size
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland
Red meat farmers and processors are welcoming a US Government announcement - removing its reciprocal tariffs on a range of food products, including New Zealand beef.
While Beef + Lamb NZ and Meat Industry Association (MIA) are seeking clarification from Washington, it appears that an additional 15% tariff imposed on NZ beef three months ago this year, is gone.
“We are still seeking clarification on the exact details of the decision. However, based on our initial analysis, it appears the US has removed the additional 15% tariff on our beef that was imposed under the bilateral tariffs applied across the board on the 1st August”, says Kate Acland, B+LNZ chair.
“This means that our beef will go back to facing a tariff of less than 1% under our WTO country specific tariff rate quota and will restore a level-playing field with our key competitors”.
Nathan Guy, Chair of the Meat Industry Association says the US is New Zealand’s largest beef market.
“This will be a boost for our exporters as it reduces the uncertainty they had been experiencing in the last few months.
“Since these additional tariffs were imposed, volumes of New Zealand’s beef and lamb to the US have decreased compared to last year, despite strong demand and firm prices. Since April, New Zealand beef imports into the US have incurred tariffs costs of over NZ$300million.
“Clearly the tariffs have been having an impact on US food inflation, so this is a sensible move to alleviate the pressure on US consumers.
“With US production at 70-year lows and consumption at record levels, the US needs our high-quality red meat.”
Acland added “New Zealand is a complementary trading partner, being an important source of lean beef that is mixed with US domestic grain-fed beef to produce burger patties. It is also becoming an important sheepmeat market for high value premium cuts.
“We hope the U.S. will also consider taking a similar approach to New Zealand lamb, which still continues to face an additional 15% tariff and has been experiencing similarly high prices.”
A lavish signing ceremony in Delhi has cemented in place a deal that will have massive economic benefits for some of NZ's key primary exports - notably forestry, horticulture, sheepmeat and wool.
Beef + Lamb NZ chair Kate Acland says that in these uncertain times, New Zealand needs to do everything it can to seize market access opportunities.
The New Zealand red meat sector has signed an open letter to parliamentarians from BusinessNZ, urging swift ratification of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Irish Minister of State of Agriculture, Noel Grealish was in New Zealand recently for an official visit.
A $20 million dairy beef programme will help farmers capture greater value from their animals.
Troubled milk processor Synlait has lost its third chief executive in five years.
Westgold butter has been named New Zealand's tastiest in a blind tasting conducted by Consumer New Zealand.
A New Zealand agritech and dairy services group has big plans as it expands its dairy services footprint across dairy hygiene, data, and milk cooling with the purchase of nationwide refrigeration business Dairy Technology Services (DTS).
The 2026 Holstein Friesian sales season has already delivered outstanding results across New Zealand and Australia - including a new Australasian record.
OPINION: At a time when farmers are advocating for less government spending and no new taxes, the dairy sector is rightly concerned by ACT's new immigration policy.
Wool Impact and ASB have signed a new partnership with the bank set to provide financial backing to support the revitalisation of New Zealand's strong wool industry.
OPINION: When Donald Trump returned to the White House, many people with half a brain could see the results for…
OPINION: Media trust has tanked because of what media's more woke members do and say.
