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  • Product: ONESOURCE Global Trade

New Zealand tariff changes

Date of publication: July 17, 2025
New Zealand Customs has announced significant updates to the country’s customs tariff structure, effective from 1 July 2025. These amendments are a result of commitments under the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) - an innovative trade agreement designed to support global climate action and promote sustainable trade. The agreement New Zealand, Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland.This article highlights the key amendments and what they mean for businesses engaged in trade with New Zealand.
This article highlights the key amendments and what they mean for businesses engaged in trade with New Zealand.

Key changes in the July 2025 tariff update

One of the commitments under the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability is the elimination of import duties on a list of environmental goods.
  1. Modernization of HS classifications
    • 647 new Harmonized System (HS)
       codes have been introduced to better reflect evolving global trade patterns and technological advancements.
    • 353 outdated HS codes
       have been removed to streamline the tariff schedule, simplifying customs procedures and reducing administrative burdens for importers and exporters.
    The update focused mainly on Chapters 84, 85, 39, and 87 to ensure alignment with New Zealand’s commitments under international agreements like the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS). The objective is to reduce the use of environmentally harmful products, encourage the adoption of green technologies, strengthen local industries, and advance New Zealand’s broader climate and economic goals.
  2. Revised excise rates
    • Excise duties have been
      increased for 183 HS codes
      , impacting categories such as
      alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and fuels
      .
    • These adjustments are part of broader efforts to align fiscal policy with public health and environmental objectives.
  3. Expansion of duty-free imports
    • The
      main customs duty has been reduced to 0%
       for
      235 HS codes
      , enhancing market access and lowering costs for businesses and consumers.
    • The amendment allows the elimination of the import duties to be applied to the environmental goods and the other goods to retain the existing duty rate.
    • This move is expected to foster a more competitive and open trading environment.
  4. Updates to preferential duty rates
    • The update also includes changes to preferential duty rates for various HS codes, impacting goods imported under free trade agreements and other preferential trade agreements.
Additional details can be found in the Working Tariff Document.

Conclusion

The above changes aim to promote the growth of key sectors, simplify the duty structure, and align with global trade practices. To help our clients stay ahead, we’ve already integrated these updates into
OneSource Global Trade Content (GTC)
ensuring they have access to the most current and accurate tariff data.
To learn more about how the ONESOURCE Global Trade suite of tools and services can help businesses analyze potential impacts, explore alternative sourcing options, and optimize their trade operations to mitigate risks and capitalize on potential advantages, please contact your Account Manager or Customer Success Manager.