The trade minister says New Zealand strongly rejects the 'forced labour' justification the United States has used for its latest round of tariffs.

The US is set to impose new tariffs ranging from 10 percent to 12.5 percent on 60 economies, including New Zealand.

President Donald Trump moved to reimpose a temporary 10 percent tariff, but that was set to expire on Friday. The new tariff regime, which sees New Zealand hit with a 12.5 percent tariff rate, replaces that.

"It's another day and another tariff story from the US. Ultimately, we reject strongly any suggestion that we're involved in the things that they've said we are."

US trade representative Jamieson Greer claimed the new tariffs were designed to combat imports made with forced labour.

"The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it's well past time for our trading partners to do the same," he said in a statement.

McClay did not buy that, saying Trump had campaigned on tariffs and would keep finding ways to put them back in place.

"Ultimately, they are just looking for any means that they can to put tariffs back on. There are some countries that have legislation that they've said is not good enough and have told them how to change it. It is for the New Zealand Government and New Zealand Parliament to make decisions as to the laws we have in place.

"But I strongly reject that there is any support at all in the New Zealand system for forced labour. We're not involved in it. It doesn't happen through our trade. It doesn't exist in New Zealand. But they're looking for any way to put a tariff rate back on.

"Let's see whether the US courts finally think that the latest move in the US is legal or not."

McClay believed there would be more court action, and there was a long way to go before there was any certainty over how New Zealand exporters may be treated.

"The US is a very litigious country, so I reckon the lawyers are already getting ready over there, and we know that the tariff rates themselves are probably harming US consumers. It takes away choice and it's pushing costs up for them."

Trump does what he does - McClay

Following a surprise tariff hike in August 2025, McClay flew to Washington DC to meet with Greer personally, and make New Zealand's position clear face-to-face. New Zealand's top trade diplomat Vangelis Vitalis was also dispatched to DC.

This time around McClay said a repeat visit was unlikely, but said he had recently spoken to Greer.

"I very clearly explained to him there isn't forced labour in New Zealand, that we have robust rules and laws in place, that we take obligations very, very seriously. But ultimately there was a bit of a shrug of the shoulders. The president of America is going to do what the president is going to do."

Around 33 percent of exports were carved out from the previous tariffs, including beef and kiwifruit, and that exemption was set to remain.