Source: BusinessNZ
New Zealand exporters face more than $9 billion a year in costs from non-tariff barriers, and a greater focus on identifying and removing unnecessary obstacles to trade could help unlock our economy, ExportNZ says.
Executive Director Joshua Tan says non-tariff barriers (NTBs) have become one of the greatest constraints on export growth as traditional tariffs decline through free trade agreements.
“Tariffs may be easing, but other barriers persist. Exporters face an ever-growing range of certification requirements, technical standards, labelling rules, customs processes and differing regulations across markets.
“These barriers add cost, delay goods reaching customers and make it harder for New Zealand businesses to compete internationally.”
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, at least 83% of New Zealand exports are affected by NTBs, imposing annual compliance costs of more than $9 billion. On average, New Zealand products face nine separate NTBs across the markets they enter.
Tan says even a single technical or certification issue can make an otherwise valuable market commercially unviable, especially for a smaller exporter.
“New Zealand is a small country exporting from a long way away. Our businesses already contend with distance, freight costs and limited scale. They can’t afford to be hamstrung by over-the-top regulatory requirements that often shift without warning.”
The call to intensify efforts to eliminate NTBs forms part of ExportNZ’s 2026 Pre-Election Blueprint, Grow Locally, Compete Globally. The 14-point plan within sets out recommendations to help more New Zealand businesses compete and grow internationally.
The blueprint makes recommendations across trade and market access, export capability, innovation, investment, skills, digital trade, infrastructure and energy. These recommendations come from extensive dialogue with exporters in-market over the past eight months, as part of ExportNZ’s consultation with its members.
“Together, the export sector is calling for a National Export Readiness Programme to help promising businesses enter international markets, an increase in the Research and Development Tax Incentive from 15% to at least 25%, faster adoption of paperless trade systems, and a long-term National Global Competitiveness Strategy.
“Removing unnecessary barriers is one of the most direct ways the next government can reduce exporters’ costs, unlock new opportunities and grow the wider economy. We want to see the next government invest in the specialist technical, legal, scientific and regulatory expertise needed to identify emerging barriers, challenge unjustified measures and resolve issues before they become entrenched.”
The blueprint also recommends stronger coordination between government agencies, exporters and industry organisations to set market-access priorities, along with more consistent, efficient and customer-focused export certification and regulatory systems in New Zealand.
“Negotiating more free trade agreements is only part of a broader solution. NZ must have the capability to defend the access it provides and help businesses convert that access into actual sales. It means we would be better at spotting potential barriers early and influencing international standards,” Tan says.
ExportNZ Chair David Boyd says the pre-election blueprint reflects a consistent message from exporters about what New Zealand needs to succeed in a more complex global economy.
“New Zealand’s prosperity has always depended on our ability to compete beyond our shores. While the trading environment has become more challenging, it is also creating new opportunities for countries that innovate, adapt, and become more internationally connected.
“New Zealand can become one of the world’s most competitive small trading nations, but it will require long-term thinking, coordinated action and genuine partnership between government, industry and iwi.
“Our exporters have repeatedly demonstrated their resilience and ability to adapt. With the right settings at home, they are ready to seize new opportunities, build internationally competitive businesses and create more value, jobs and prosperity for New Zealand.”
Boyd says ExportNZ is ready to work with the next government to turn ambition into action.
“This blueprint provides a practical roadmap for improving the environment in which exporters invest, innovate, employ people and grow. We encourage all political parties to work with business to build a more productive, competitive and outward-looking New Zealand.”
ExportNZ’s 2026 Pre-Election Blueprint, Grow Locally, Compete Globally is available to download and read now, at exportnz.org.nz