WASHINGTON – Today, the Office of the United States Trade Representative submitted the 2026 National Trade Estimate (NTE) to President Trump and Congress. The 2026 NTE details significant foreign trade barriers facing U.S. exports and outlines how the Trump Administration is addressing these non-reciprocal practices to ensure a playing field for American workers.

“President Trump continues to reverse decades of unfair trade practices by using tariffs and brokering deals to open markets abroad while supporting industries and sparking investment at home,” said Ambassador Greer. “This year’s report highlights how the commitments secured in the Agreements on Reciprocal Trade are eliminating long-standing trade barriers and unlocking new markets with hundreds of millions of consumers for U.S. exporters. The Trump Administration will continue to build on the momentum from the past year to address the unfair trade practices detailed in this report and advance the best interests of American workers and their families.”

NEW ZEALAND TRADE SUMMARY
The U.S. goods trade deficit with New Zealand was $1.5 billion in 2025, a 31.9 percent increase ($357.7 million) over 2024.  U.S. goods exports to New Zealand totaled $4.1 billion in 2025, down 8.5 percent ($383.1 million) from 2024.  U.S. goods imports from New Zealand totaled $5.6 billion in 2025, down 0.5 percent ($25.4 million) from 2024.  Total U.S. goods trade (exports plus imports) with New Zealand was an estimated $9.7 billion in 2025.  New Zealand was the 54th largest U.S. goods export market in 2025.

The U.S. services trade surplus with New Zealand was $1.0 billion in 2025, a 13.1 percent increase ($120 million) over 2024.  U.S. services exports to New Zealand totaled $4.0 billion in 2025, up 8.0 percent ($298 million) from 2024.  U.S. services imports from New Zealand totaled $3.0 billion in 2025, up 6.4 percent ($178 million) from 2024.  Total U.S. services trade with New Zealand was an estimated $7.0 billion in 2025.  New Zealand was the 37th largest U.S. services export market in 2024 (latest data available).

TRADE AGREEMENTS
The United States–New Zealand Trade and Investment Framework Agreement The United States and New Zealand signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) on October 2, 1992.  The TIFA is the primary mechanism for discussions of trade and investment issues between the United States and New Zealand.

IMPORT POLICIES
Tariffs
New Zealand’s average most-favored-nation ((MFN) applied tariff rate was 1.9 percent in 2024 (latest data available).  New Zealand’s average MFN applied tariff rate was 1.4 percent for agricultural products and 2.0 percent for non-agricultural products in 2024 (latest data available).  New Zealand has bound 100 percent of its tariff lines in the World Trade Organization (WTO), with an average WTO bound tariff rate of 9.5 percent.

As of 2025, New Zealand applied a zero percent duty on an MFN basis on 65.6 percent of its tariff lines in agricultural goods and on 59.0 percent of its tariff lines in non-agricultural goods.

Taxes
Value Added Taxes
New Zealand applies a standard goods services tax (GST) rate of 15 percent to most goods and services, including imports from the United States.  The GST is based on domestic consumption; therefore, it is applied to domestic and imported goods and services that are consumed in New Zealand.  New Zealand applies a GST of zero percent for goods and services that are exported from New Zealand.

New Zealand also exempts or applies a zero percent GST to certain financial services, such as loans, paying of interest, bank fees, and financial intermediation services.  Additionally, domestic and foreign businesses that have less than NZD $60,000 (approximately $35,294) in sales in New Zealand are not required to register for or charge GST.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
The United States continues to monitor developments to amend the Medicines Act 1981 and any developments regarding the Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Act 2006, particularly in light of the entry into force of the free trade agreement between the European Union and New Zealand in May 2024.  The United States continues to work with New Zealand to address any intellectual property issues.

SERVICES BARRIERS
Audiovisual Services
In February 2025, the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage published for public consultation proposed reforms to New Zealand’s media legislation.  These reforms included a proposal to impose investment and discoverability requirements regarding local content on streaming platforms and TV broadcasters, among other proposals; the consultation period closed in March 2025.  Any proposals that are accepted by the New Zealand Cabinet would require legislation to implement, and no such legislation has been introduced as of December 31, 2025.  The United States continues to monitor this issue.

Other Digitally-Enabled Services and Digital Products
News Media Bargaining Code In 2023
New Zealand introduced the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, aimed at regulating content remuneration between news publishers and digital platforms.  The bill would require a digital platform to enter mandatory negotiations with New Zealand news publishers when the platform makes the publisher’s news content available and a “bargaining power imbalance” exists between the platform and the news media entity.  In December 2024, the government announced the bill had been placed on hold to observe how Australia implemented similar legislation.  The United States continues to monitor this issue to ensure that U.S. companies are not unfairly targeted.

OTHER MARKET-DISTORTING PRACTICES 
New Zealand does not impose sufficient measures against market-distorting practices in order to insulate the U.S. and New Zealand markets from these distortions and ensure a fair and secure trading relationship.  New Zealand has not entered into an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade with the United States that includes commitments to address these distortions.  New Zealand does not participate in the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity, which is dedicated to developing and implementing collective solutions to address global excess capacity and enhance market function in the steel sector.

LABOR
New Zealand does not have a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced or compulsory labor.  Therefore, such goods can enter and compete in New Zealand’s market.  This issue may artificially suppress costs, including labor costs, which may certain goods from and within New Zealand an unfair advantage.

OTHER BARRIERS
Pharmaceuticals 
The Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC) determines which medicines to fund for use in community and public hospitals, negotiates prices with pharmaceutical companies, manages the national contracting of hospital medical devices, and sets subsidy levels and reimbursement criteria.  Some U.S. stakeholders have expressed concern about aspects of PHARMAC’s regulatory process, including lack of transparency, timeliness, and predictability in the funding process and lengthy delays in reimbursing new products

Source: https://ustr.gov/