🇦🇺 Australia vs 🇳🇿 New Zealand Tariffs — Import Duty Comparison (2026)

When choosing between Australia and New Zealand as import sources, US businesses must weigh tariff rates, trade agreements, product availability, and supply chain logistics.

Both countries face the same base tariff rate of 10% on most goods entering the United States.

Both countries export Beef, Wine, Machinery to the United States, creating direct competition in these sectors.

In terms of trade volume, Australia accounts for approximately $42B in bilateral trade with the US, exceeding New Zealand's $10B.

Both countries are subject to the Section 301 forced-labor tariff that replaced the flat 10% Section 122 rate on July 24, 2026 — a two-tier 10%/12.5% duty on roughly 60 economies (about 99.4% of US imports by value), broader than the earlier 46-country proposal. Section 122 had itself replaced the IEEPA tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court. In August 2026, 25 states sued to block the forced-labor tariff, but CBP continues collecting it while the case proceeds.

Australia's advantages include: Trade agreement: US-Australia FTA (duty-free on qualifying goods); Exempt from Section 232 steel/aluminum tariffs; Higher US trade volume ($42B vs $10B); Unique export categories: Aluminum, Pharmaceuticals, Crude oil. New Zealand's advantages include: Unique export categories: Dairy products, Lamb, Timber.

With equivalent base tariff rates, the choice between Australia and New Zealand depends primarily on product-specific duties, shipping costs, lead times, and supply chain considerations rather than the base tariff rate.