The ‘Liberation Day’ plan sets out broad, country-specific duties on US trading partners.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a new round of sweeping tariffs, part of what he has branded his ‘Liberation Day’ plan, raising concerns over a potential global trade war.
Washington is introducing customs duties on all countries based on the principle of reciprocity, Trump has announced, calling it a day of economic independence for the United States.
The president confirmed that the 25% global tariffs on cars and trucks will take effect as scheduled on Thursday, while duties on imported automotive parts is set to begin on May 3.
In his speech at the Rose Garden, Trump complained that “none of our companies are allowed to go into other countries.”
“That’s why, effective at midnight, we will impose a 25% tariff on all foreign-made automobiles,” he declared.
Trump claimed the reciprocal tariffs would usher in a “golden age” for the country, adding that “jobs and factories will come roaring back.”
According to a chart presented by Trump during his speech, the new tariffs will range from 10% to 50%, depending on the country. Washington will impose a 20% tariff on the EU, 34% levies on China, and 24% duties on Japan, among others.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 2, 2025
Trump said Washington would implement “kind” reciprocal tariffs on all countries amounting to “approximately half” of what those nations charge the US.
“We will supercharge our domestic industrial base” and “break down” trade barriers abroad, he vowed, noting that ultimately this would mean lower prices for consumers.
“Our country and its taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years, but it is NOT going to happen anymore,” Trump concluded, adding “We are finally putting America first.”
Oh dear, all that arse kissing, National and Labour and this is the response….I would hope you have learned your lesson but from what I have seen, I know better.
Serves all you tossas right. Thou shalt not rip off the good ole US of A
Great trolling. Here is some back.
Half of your country votes for one AIPAC controlled candidate, the other half for another AIPAC controlled candidate.
Thats why your country is always starting wars/kinetic action/bombings based on lies. And you’re all too preoccupied with fighting each other over whose candidate is worse to unite to get rid of that influence.
Not too bright really!
Don’t blame him, NZ will have to bend the knee.
NZ is already on its knees and a BIG part of the reason, is the pro US toadying, from out disloyal, mainstream political party’s. This Gene Tech Bill, a prime example. We are the new “lab” at the bottom of the world, now Russia has flushed them out of Ukraine.
If our government doesn’t stop treating us like Sh1t we should write to Trump and ask him to tariff us more until this country is free of the globalist shills.
Im hoping he will offer the white people of this racist country refugee status.
Most of the Central American Nations that have only a 10% Tariff have already been taken-over / infiltrated with the likes of Pieter Thiel & Planatir, Kill Gates, Blackrock, and State Street.
THAT is why they pay less in Tariffs…
I wonder if Serco and the U.S. Just-us Department are now paying El Salvador to take American ‘Patriots’ after disappearing them from the U.S., and placing them in the new super max prison in El-Salvador, hoping that Tren de Agua and MS-13 will chop their heads off or just shank them to death so that they won’t be a threat to the Israeli States of Amerika…!
There’s a club and we ain’t in it, unless you’re given diesel therapy and then sent to El Salvador for shanking, beheading and anal rape..!
Well said mate……
Trump you are great keep up the good work.
Great for who? This is about tax reduction but given the average American, isn’t paying a lot of tax, because most can’t afford an $800 USD operation, its for his fellow oligarchs benefit. Worse still, prices for everyday folks will climb and climb because of these tariffs. Stop being naive.
But of course this is just round one and a negotiation start point for all. Not a permanent situation.
However some luxon advisors don’t add anything… helpful.
https://www.downtoearth.kiwi/post/has-trump-whacked-tariffs-on-nz-because-of-what-pm-luxon-s-highest-level-advisers-have-said-about-hi
Can’t believe the press Goff is getting- foot in national mouth much?
With a return to tariffs, Trump’s External Revenue Service (ERS) will replace Internal Revenue Service (IRS)… so if all other nations also change to reciprocal tariff taxation, the hope is New Zealand will no longer require IRD and GST even… and wouldn’t that be life changing!
True….we shall see if our Politicians have the negotiating chops. Or if they are a bunch of useless puppets
Nah, our Govt and buearocracy is so bloated and geared to grow they will suck up all that and more, like they are doing now.
What a clever boy Trump is. How can uninhabited islands produce or export anything? But the Heard Island and McDonald Islands exported USD$1.4million of machinery and electrical goods to USA in 2022. Were these goods exported by ghosts? So it doesn’t matter if nobody lives there? Just slap a tariff on these uninhabited islands. Clever boy. No $$ wasted on investigating obvious fraud.
The ghosts might stop exporting from these uninhabited islands to avoid the new tariffs. They’ll no doubt find other uninhabited islands to export from. And when they run out of islands, they could export to the USA from the outer space.
What are you complaining about. NZ is charging a 20% tariff an US is only charging a 10% tariff. Looks like NZ is getting the better deal.
Trump’s tariffs are brilliant. It takes a thief to catch a thief.
These tariffs would hamper international tax evasion more effectively than laws created by politicians, public servants and academics
Question, why haven’t the media told the public that the country’s that Trump has imposed the tariffs on already have tariffs on goods coming in from the US. Isn’t Trump merely trying to protect American jobs, just like these other country’s are doing or have I got this wrong?
The same global interests who evade taxes by concealing the true sources/destinations of imports/exports also control the mainstream media.
So they prefer the scornful anti-tariff mockery over actual factual data.
This is good, at least people will be educated on how tariffs work, (example)we pay high meat prices in NZ because supermarkets set their price at the same price that NZ meat is sold to the consumer in overseas markets, specifically linked to the country with the highest tarriff, that is why our meat is cheaper in some overseas countries than in NZ because that country imposes a lower tarriff compared to the highest one set elsewhere.
NZ supermarkets impose tariffs imposed on us that are supposed to be paid by the consumer of the country imposing the tariff, how is this right?
Why does our Govt allow businesses to do this? to do this?
Thats my bitch.
What say yeh Grok
Your question raises an interesting point about meat prices in New Zealand and how they might be influenced by supermarket pricing strategies, international markets, and tariffs. Let’s break it down and address your concerns step-by-step.
First, it’s worth clarifying that supermarkets in New Zealand don’t impose tariffs—tariffs are taxes set by governments on imported or exported goods. What you seem to be suggesting is that NZ supermarkets are setting domestic meat prices based on what NZ meat fetches in overseas markets, particularly in countries with high tariffs, and that this results in higher prices for Kiwi consumers compared to some overseas buyers. This is a plausible theory, so let’s explore how it might work and why it could happen.
New Zealand is a major exporter of meat, particularly lamb and beef, with over 70-95% of its production sold overseas. Export prices are influenced by global demand, supply conditions, and yes, tariffs in importing countries. Countries with high tariffs—like some in the European Union, where tariffs on sheep meat can reach around 50% outside of quota limits—push up the cost for their consumers. Meanwhile, countries with lower or no tariffs, thanks to free trade agreements (e.g., Australia or China), can buy NZ meat at a lower final price. The idea that NZ supermarkets might peg their prices to the highest export market price (adjusted for tariffs) could stem from a profit-driven strategy: if meat is fetching a premium overseas, why sell it domestically for less?
However, this isn’t the full story. Domestic meat prices in NZ are also shaped by local factors—production costs, transport, labor, and supermarket margins—not just export prices. Supermarkets like Countdown (Woolworths NZ) and Foodstuffs (Pak’nSave, New World) operate in a competitive duopoly, and their pricing reflects both market power and the need to stay attractive to Kiwi shoppers. If they were simply matching the highest tariff-inflated export price, you’d expect NZ meat prices to be consistently exorbitant, yet studies and consumer data (e.g., from Stats NZ or Numbeo) show that while meat here is expensive compared to some countries, it’s not always higher than in places like the UK or US after tariffs and transport costs are factored in.
So, why might NZ meat sometimes be cheaper overseas? One reason is trade agreements. For example, under the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (effective since mid-2023), tariffs on sheep meat are being phased out over 15 years, with generous quotas in the meantime. Countries within these quotas get NZ meat at a lower cost than if they paid full tariffs. Meanwhile, NZ consumers don’t benefit from such quotas domestically—they pay a price set by the local market, which includes supermarket markups. Another factor is that export meat cuts often differ from what’s sold locally; cheaper offcuts might go overseas while premium cuts stay in NZ, skewing price comparisons.
Is this “right”? That’s a value judgment, but economically, businesses aim to maximize profit. If supermarkets can charge more locally because of limited competition or consumer willingness to pay, they will. They’re not passing on tariffs meant for overseas consumers—those tariffs are paid by importers abroad. Instead, they might be benchmarking against high export returns, which feels unfair if you’re a Kiwi paying top dollar for meat produced down the road.
As for why the government allows this, it’s less about permission and more about the limits of control in a free-market economy. New Zealand’s government doesn’t set retail prices—supermarkets do, based on supply, demand, and their own strategies. The Commerce Commission has been scrutinizing the grocery sector, with a 2022 report highlighting the duopoly’s pricing power and lack of competition. While the government could intervene (e.g., through price controls or export restrictions), it rarely does, favoring market freedom and export-led growth. NZ’s economy relies heavily on meat exports—about $9 billion annually to the US alone—so policies prioritize global competitiveness over domestic price caps. Plus, any move to force lower local prices could risk trade disputes or reduced farmer incomes, which no government wants.
That said, it’s not all laissez-faire. The government negotiates trade deals to lower overseas tariffs, boosting export volumes, and has taken steps to address supermarket dominance—like pushing for more competition or threatening regulation if margins don’t ease. But directly tackling your specific gripe (supermarkets allegedly shadowing high-tariff export prices) would require hard evidence of price gouging tied to export benchmarks, which isn’t clearly documented.
In short, your frustration makes sense—meat prices in NZ can feel disproportionately high given our production. Supermarkets likely do factor in export market trends, but they’re not imposing tariffs on you; they’re just charging what the market bears. The government’s hands-off approach reflects a broader economic philosophy, though it’s under pressure to act if competition doesn’t improve. If this bugs you, digging into local butcher prices or pushing for more grocery players might be practical next steps!