August 2, 2025 • 4 mins
The Prime Minister believes the United States' tariff hike of 15 percent was a blunt and late decision.
The US announced the increase for New Zealand exporters, while the UK and Australia remain at 10 percent.
Trade Minister Todd McClay's been invited by his US counterpart to visit and discuss the tariffs.
NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse says it's expected McClay will make the trip in the next two weeks.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News TALKS'B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Joining me now is New Zealand Herald Deputy editor Adam Pierce.
Good morning, Adam.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
You had the pleasure of going to the National Party
conference yesterday, which looked like a very speedy conference, to
be honest with you. Started was lunch, kicked off at one,
was sort of over by five, wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Oh. You look, they didn't luck around and I think
that's a part of that is about the cost of
these things. You know, it takes a you know, it's
a lot these days. You know, you think about domestic affairs, accommodation,
you know, it's a lot to ask of members, especially
if they're traveling from from far away. We're here in
Christ's Church at the moment, So I think that that
does factor in the cost bits to it. But you know,
(00:54):
there's also a few things that they need to cover
and they want to get their message message across. They
also don't want to give you know, they don't want
to give the media too much access, you know, so
they've got to make sure that they're keeping their plans
ready for the twenty six sections. But no, it was good.
It was good to be there and it's good to
be able to gauge what the members, how members are feeling,
(01:16):
and also the messages that the party are looking to send.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Okay, how are the members feeling?
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Well, it's interesting.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
You know, there's obviously the cost of living aspect, which
everyone seems to be talking about at the moment, and
you could see the priority that the likes of Nikola Willis,
Christopher Luxem course, Chris Bishop. You know, they were placing
on really driving that message home that we have work
in play at the moment that will deliver relief. We
(01:43):
just need to keep working at it. And obviously, you know,
you could see some of some of the tension, some
of the questions being raised about the pain that some
small businesses were facing at the moment. So you know,
that is a very live issue, something that they're very
aware of that they're going to have to tackle.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Aside from the conservation announcement which we've just covered, was
there anything else of note mentioned yesterday by the Prime
Minister or any of the other ministers.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Yeah, we certainly had the trade aspect, you know, the
US's announcement on the tariff rates. So we've got the
top trade diplomat, Migealis with Talis heading over i think
flying over today, and then we have Todd McClay trade
mclay's is now and the trade minis. They're heading over
to meet with his US counterpart, probably in a couple
(02:27):
of weeks. And now whether that can kind of shift
the dial is where the US have landed on a
fifteen percent base rate. You know who knows, I mean,
Donald Trump is going to do what he wants. You know,
whether you're going to be able to see much moving
on that, I'm not sure. The interesting thing will be
to see whether there are any specific carve outs for
particular products. And McLay raised beef yesterday. You know, the
(02:50):
US needs more beef, it wants more beef, and that's
good for our exporters. So whether there'll be a specific
exemption for those kinds of products, it's a bit of
a waiting game, Adam.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
We have been talking about changes to NCA for a
few weeks now, but an announcement is imminent.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Yeah, well that certainly seems to be the case. You know,
we've heard from Education Minister Erica Stanford about all the
issues that have that CCS in the qualifications program and
in all those discussions, a lot of those My colleague
Jamiens has done a lot of great work on this
NCAA being removed has not been taken off the table,
(03:28):
and there seems to be an awful amount of issues
that the Minister's raised for it not to be or
at least extensively reformed. I mean the general idea, and
it's been picked up a lot by people have been
very interested in these stories. The general ideas that students
have been able to gain standards credits that allow them
to get qualifications that don't actually teach them much or
(03:48):
that you know, don't set themselves up for a prosperous career,
you know, and that fits very squarely within what the
government wants to do in education, you know, just back
to basics, focus, reading and writing. So don't be surprised
if they hone in on that area.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
When we say imminent, don't we talking about the next
few days this week? Do you think?
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Well, who knows? I mean, they've been very very active.
Erica Stanford has been very keen to get things moving
on this has been some reporting that it could be
in the coming days, we'll just have to wait and see.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
For more from the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin, Listen
live to news Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News TALKS'B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Joining me now is New Zealand Herald Deputy editor Adam Pierce.
Good morning, Adam.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
You had the pleasure of going to the National Party
conference yesterday, which looked like a very speedy conference, to
be honest with you. Started was lunch, kicked off at one,
was sort of over by five, wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Oh. You look, they didn't luck around and I think
that's a part of that is about the cost of
these things. You know, it takes a you know, it's
a lot these days. You know, you think about domestic affairs, accommodation,
you know, it's a lot to ask of members, especially
if they're traveling from from far away. We're here in
Christ's Church at the moment, So I think that that
does factor in the cost bits to it. But you know,
(00:54):
there's also a few things that they need to cover
and they want to get their message message across. They
also don't want to give you know, they don't want
to give the media too much access, you know, so
they've got to make sure that they're keeping their plans
ready for the twenty six sections. But no, it was good.
It was good to be there and it's good to
be able to gauge what the members, how members are feeling,
(01:16):
and also the messages that the party are looking to send.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Okay, how are the members feeling?
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Well, it's interesting.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
You know, there's obviously the cost of living aspect, which
everyone seems to be talking about at the moment, and
you could see the priority that the likes of Nikola Willis,
Christopher Luxem course, Chris Bishop. You know, they were placing
on really driving that message home that we have work
in play at the moment that will deliver relief. We
(01:43):
just need to keep working at it. And obviously, you know,
you could see some of some of the tension, some
of the questions being raised about the pain that some
small businesses were facing at the moment. So you know,
that is a very live issue, something that they're very
aware of that they're going to have to tackle.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Aside from the conservation announcement which we've just covered, was
there anything else of note mentioned yesterday by the Prime
Minister or any of the other ministers.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Yeah, we certainly had the trade aspect, you know, the
US's announcement on the tariff rates. So we've got the
top trade diplomat, Migealis with Talis heading over i think
flying over today, and then we have Todd McClay trade
mclay's is now and the trade minis. They're heading over
to meet with his US counterpart, probably in a couple
(02:27):
of weeks. And now whether that can kind of shift
the dial is where the US have landed on a
fifteen percent base rate. You know who knows, I mean,
Donald Trump is going to do what he wants. You know,
whether you're going to be able to see much moving
on that, I'm not sure. The interesting thing will be
to see whether there are any specific carve outs for
particular products. And McLay raised beef yesterday. You know, the
(02:50):
US needs more beef, it wants more beef, and that's
good for our exporters. So whether there'll be a specific
exemption for those kinds of products, it's a bit of
a waiting game, Adam.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
We have been talking about changes to NCA for a
few weeks now, but an announcement is imminent.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Yeah, well that certainly seems to be the case. You know,
we've heard from Education Minister Erica Stanford about all the
issues that have that CCS in the qualifications program and
in all those discussions, a lot of those My colleague
Jamiens has done a lot of great work on this
NCAA being removed has not been taken off the table,
(03:28):
and there seems to be an awful amount of issues
that the Minister's raised for it not to be or
at least extensively reformed. I mean the general idea, and
it's been picked up a lot by people have been
very interested in these stories. The general ideas that students
have been able to gain standards credits that allow them
to get qualifications that don't actually teach them much or
(03:48):
that you know, don't set themselves up for a prosperous career,
you know, and that fits very squarely within what the
government wants to do in education, you know, just back
to basics, focus, reading and writing. So don't be surprised
if they hone in on that area.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
When we say imminent, don't we talking about the next
few days this week? Do you think?
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Well, who knows? I mean, they've been very very active.
Erica Stanford has been very keen to get things moving
on this has been some reporting that it could be
in the coming days, we'll just have to wait and see.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
For more from the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin, Listen
live to news Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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