The Trade Minister says New Zealand could have done nothing to avoid another US tariff hike.

New Zealand and several other countries will be hit by higher rates from Friday.

Todd McClay has now spoken with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, about the change imposed by Donald Trump.

He says it's based purely on last year's export numbers, and any country with a US trade surplus last year faces a rate of 15 percent or more.

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