NZ loses US tariff edge, but at least one economist sees upside

US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order outlining new reciprocal tariff rates for many countries including NZ. (Image: AFP)

John Anthony

Fri, 01 Aug 2025

New Zealand has lost its tariff edge on exports to the United States, but economists aren’t sounding the alarm – one even says the new rates could work in NZ’s favour.On Friday, a Donald Trump executive order raised NZ’s reciprocal tariff rate from 10% to 15%, alongside changes for many other countries.Britain and Australia received a lower tariff rate of 10%. Other key rates included 15% for the EU, Japan, and Korea, and 19–20% for Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.Some countries are yet to make deals, inclu...

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