CountryWide CONNECT

13th May 2026 // Rural News in partnership with Farmlands

US lamb tariff investigation expected to target NZ and Australia Beef tariff changes could benefit Kiwi exporters Hawke's Bay growers eye takeover of McCain factory Rural News is in partnership with Farmlands as part of CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp - our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch / listen. US lamb tariff investigation expected to target NZ and Australia New Zealand's lamb exporters could soon face a fresh trade threat, with Trade Minister Todd McClay warning a United States investigation into New Zealand and Australian lamb imports is likely in the coming weeks. McClay says US trade officials are looking for new ways to reintroduce tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's sweeping emergency duties as illegal. So-called unfair trade practice investigations are emerging as the administration's preferred alternative route. New Zealand exported more than six-hundred million dollars of sheep meat — including lamb — to the US in 2025. McClay says officials are in contact with their US counterparts, making the case that New Zealand is not flooding the market and is helping American farmers grow domestic demand for lamb. But the minister is under no illusions about the political reality. He says if the president decides to act, the president decides — and the trigger could be anything. Most New Zealand exports to the US currently face a ten percent blanket tariff. Beef tariff changes could benefit Kiwi exporters Meanwhile, New Zealand beef exporters are watching developments in the United States closely, after the Wall Street Journal reported the Trump administration is planning to temporarily reduce beef tariffs as soon as this week. The move is being driven by record-high domestic beef prices in the US, where the American cattle herd sits at a seventy-five year low. The administration is expected to suspend tariff-rate quotas that apply higher rates once import volumes hit a threshold — allowing more product in at lower rates. Whether New Zealand gains from the changes remains uncertain — any reduction in tariffs could also open the door to significantly increased competition from Brazil, the world's biggest beef producer. There have been no official announcements from the US Government. Hawke's Bay growers eye takeover of McCain factory Hawke's Bay vegetable growers are exploring whether they could take over the McCain frozen vegetable factory in Hastings — and save an industry that has underpinned the region's cropping sector for decades. McCain announced it was closing the Hastings plant after being unable to identify a sustainable pathway for the operation, leaving more than a hundred growers of peas, beans, corn and carrots facing an uncertain future. For some, the crop represents up to a quarter of their annual income. Meetings have been held between ministers, mayors and growers since the announcement, with strong appetite among farmers to attempt a community takeover of the site. But the clock is ticking — McCain is operating the factory only until January, after which machinery could be packed up and sent overseas. Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Will Foley says losing the assets would make any restart far more expensive. McCain has confirmed it has received interest from several parties and is continuing discussions. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says there is a huge amount of optimism in the region and he plans to meet with growers in the coming weeks.

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