Jamie Mackay: The Country host reveals how New Zealand's rural sector responded to the Trump tariffs

Donald Trump has finally unveiled his long-awaited batch of tariffs - and it's gotten a mixed reaction from New Zealand's rural sector.

Red meat producers have voiced their disappointment with these changes, but it's unclear how hard the dairy sector will be hit.

The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Jamie McKay hosted the Country with Me tonight, Jamie, Good evening,
Good day, Ryan. How what's the reaction been like the
rural sector to the tariff announcement today from Donald Trump?

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Well, well, it depends on who you're listening to. I
heard just talking to Tod McLay Ryan just after five o'clock,
and I've seen Luxon saying tariffs are no good for
anybody on the world stage. Yet I spoke to Winston Peters,
obviously Foreign Affairs Minister.

Speaker 3 (00:26):
Some people would say he's.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
A bit pro America, but he thought it was a
good result for US, and I guess when you look
at some of the other countries like Cambodia and Vietnam,
relatively it's a good result from a primary sector point
of view, Ryan, I don't think dairy will be too
badly affected, although in sane that only six percent of
our dairy stuff goes to the US. But our biggest

(00:50):
market for darry is obviously China with a thirty four
percent tariff. Their economy is obviously going to be affected
by this. So really the kicker for US is what
effect it has on other economies or other customers.

Speaker 3 (01:03):
I think from a primary.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
Sect the point of view, just my take on it,
meat and wine would be the worst effect. You take
the United States as our biggest red meat market. When
it comes to sheep meat, it's second only to China,
and when it comes to beef, it's the biggest by
a country mile, almost twice out of China. So you know,
nine billion dollars, as Tod McLay said, that's a nine

(01:28):
hundred million dollar tariff. We're better off than a lot
of countries. But I think we'd be better off without them.

Speaker 1 (01:34):
Yeah, well, yeah, the whole world would be, wouldn't we.
Did you remember when Donald Trump tweeted on his whatever
you call it, on his truth social site about an
agriculture It seemed to imply there was a specific agriculture
tariff coming, and we were a bit worried about that.
I'm assuming, Jamie, this is what he was talking about,
and that it will benefit agriculture American agricultural producers rather

(01:57):
than a specific agricultural tariff. That all understanding too well.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
The man confuses me, to be perfectly honest, I can't
quite figure out how he's figured out that he's paying
a twenty percent tariff to put stuff into New Zealand.

Speaker 3 (02:10):
I've heard all sorts of explanations how.

Speaker 2 (02:12):
That number's gone about, but it would be primary school maths,
bad primary school maths.

Speaker 3 (02:17):
He's used to come up with that number.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
Look, I think certainly in the short term, maybe in
the medium term we're just going to have to put
up with it. And maybe and there is as once
Peter said that on my show, there is possibilities that
markets could open up for us elsewhere where we can
be more competitive because of our lower tariff freight into
the US. So look, we'll see how it plays out,

(02:42):
but I'm with Luxan on this one.

Speaker 3 (02:44):
We'd be better off without the tariffs.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
Very briefly, Jamie, we've got this twenty four year old
Megan White who is going for gold, the only female
contestant and the young farmer regional finals.

Speaker 3 (02:56):
Well, the last of the of the regional finals, remember
the seven of the last of them is happening this
weekend down in Winton and Southland Heartland, Southland, and she
is the only female finalist of all the rest of
males obviously, so if she were to get through and
win that Otago Southland Regional final, she would be the
only female finalist. The other six regional finalists already decided.

(03:21):
Our blokes, remembering Emma Emma Paul one the young farmer
of the Air Grand Final, first female and only female
to do so in twenty twenty three. But look this
three first time is and there'll be another first time
a coming out of Otago Southland. But the ones to
keep an eye on, I'm hearing Hugh Jackson bay Plenty,
second time finalist. He finished third behind Emma Paul in

(03:45):
twenty twenty three. George Leatham out of Tasman, Gareth Gareth
mckirchheer out of Arangi, both second timers. Both were in
the Grand Final last year. So watch out for those
three names. And I'm hearing Hugh Jackson's the favorite. I've
probably just given him the comment kiss of death right.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
Yes you might hear Jamie, appreciate your time. Jamie mckaye
hosted the Country and good luck to Megan White of
course as well. For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive,
listen live to news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio