Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says the US Supreme Court’s new ruling deeming Donald Trump’s global tariffs illegal is “welcome news” but acknowledges “considerable uncertainty” remains. 

In a major development, the US Supreme Court has ruled the widespread tariffs President Trump imposed on almost every country in the world were illegal. 

That included a 15% tariff Trump placed on New Zealand exports to the US. 

The President imposed these tariffs on April 2 last year, which he called ‘Liberation Day’, by invoking a 1977 law meant for national emergencies. 

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that he had exceeded his authority in doing so. 

Shortly after the ruling announcement, Trump vowed to impose a new 10% global tariff which would be “over and above our normal tariffs already being charged”. 

He also said he could cut off trade with any country. 

Trade Minister Todd McClay said any reduction in tariffs would be "welcome news". Photo / Mark Mitchell 

McClay said the court’s ruling “has the potential to be important for NZ exporters, however considerable uncertainty is likely to remain”. 

“Our exports have been holding up well overall in the US market since the Administration imposed a 15% tariff on New Zealand, with evidence that in many cases cost increases are being passed on.” 

He said any reduction in tariffs would be “welcome news”. 

“New Zealand does not believe the 15% tariff imposed on many of our exporters is warranted given the average tariff rate applied to US goods into New Zealand is just 0.3%.” 

McClay said New Zealand’s embassy in Washington would get more information so they could continue to work with exporters but uncertainty around US tariff policy would likely remain for an extended period of time. 

Meanwhile, Trump said he was “ashamed of certain members” of the Supreme Court for ruling that his “reciprocal” tariffs were unlawful. 

“They’re very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution,” Trump said.