An update from MBIE on tariffs and anti-dumping duties from 13 February 2019:

Tariff concessions on residential building materials

Tariff concessions have applied to many materials used in residential construction since 2014. The Government has decided not to re-impose these tariffs and the concession will remain in place to help improve housing affordability. This will be reviewed in 2023.

The tariff concession covers about 90% of the materials used for residential building.

You can read more about tariff concessions, including the Ministerial briefing paper for this decision, on the MBIE website.

Anti-dumping duties — suspension to expire on 30 June 2019

In 2014, the Government suspended anti-dumping duties on residential building materials to help promote competition in the sector, reduce the cost of construction and lift sector productivity.

The Government has decided to allow the suspension of anti-dumping duties on residential building materials to expire on 30 June 2019, as previously planned and legislated for.

The suspension of anti-dumping duties is now considered unnecessary as New Zealand’s trade remedies regime now has a public interest test in place. The public interest test allows the government to take into account public interest considerations, such as the effects on consumers, before imposing any future duties. This means the government must now consider, on a case-by-case basis, whether to apply future duties on residential building materials.

There are currently no suspended anti-dumping duties in place that will come back into effect when the suspension is lifted.

You can read more about anti-dumping duties, including the ministerial briefing paper for this decision, on the MBIE website.