Why New Zealand's United States tariff rates could rise on a whim

MFAT trade and economic deputy secretary Vangelis Vitalis. (Image: BusinessDesk)

Thu, 09 Oct 2025

New Zealand officials were surprised and relieved that the United States' tariffs were only 10% on most timber exports, but there is no guarantee they won’t rise further, a senior official says.That is because NZ’s trade surplus with the US continues to grow. The tariffs on all softwood products imported into the US take effect from Oct 14.Vangelis Vitalis, the deputy secretary for trade and economic issues at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), spoke at the Wood Processors and Manufacturers (WPMA) conference in W...

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