New Zealand has welcomed United States President Donald Trump’s decision, as he announced on Friday, to remove additional tariffs on a range of New Zealand agricultural products, including beef, offal, and kiwi fruit.
However, the New Zealand government said that it hopes to see all the additional US tariffs on its goods removed.
Trump removed tariffs he had imposed on more than 200 food products, including beef, on Friday, citing consumer concerns about rising US grocery prices.
New Zealand’s Reply:
According to the New Zealand government, these food products represent around 25 per cent of the country’s exports to the US and are worth roughly NZ$2.21 billion ($1.25 billion) annually.
In a statement on Sunday, New Zealand’s trade minister, Todd McClay, said, “The US remains an important trade partner for New Zealand and the decision to lift these tariffs is a step in the right direction and will be welcomed by exporters who have faced months of uncertainty and higher costs.”
He added that the broader reciprocal tariff framework by the United States continues to create uncertainty for New Zealand’s exporters. He also sought that the additional reciprocal tariffs on other exports be removed.
Industry Seeks Clarification:
Despite the tariffs on beef and other food products being reduced, Beef + Lamb NZ and Meat Industry Association (MIA) are seeking clarification on the exact details of the decision by the United States.
B+LNZ chair, Kate Acland, opined that the new tariff rate on New Zealand beef may restore a level-playing field with key competitors.
Meat Industry Association chief, Nathan Guy, welcomed the decision. Nathan said the decision by the United States would be a boost for New Zealand’s meat exporters. It would help in the reduction of the uncertainty with which country’s exporters had been dealing for the past couple of months, he added.
According to experts, New Zealand beef imports into the US have incurred a loss of over NZ$300million following the tariffs, despite strong demand and firm prices in the past couple of months.
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