On 27 May 2026, New Zealand notified the
WTO's Committee on Safeguards of the initiation on 28 May 2026 of a safeguard
investigation on imports of certain aluminium extrusions.
·
New
Zealand initiated a safeguard investigation on 28 May 2026 into increased
imports of certain aluminium extrusion products.
·
The
investigation is being conducted by New Zealand’s Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment (MBIE) under the Trade (Safeguard Measures) Act 2014
and WTO safeguard rules.
·
The
probe covers:
o aluminium bars, rods, and profiles of
aluminium alloys,
o including hollow and other profiles under
tariff items:
§ 7604.21.00 00B
§ 7604.29.09 00F.
·
The
products include aluminium alloy extrusions in series 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7,
whether coated, painted, anodised, mechanically finished, or in mill finish.
·
The
investigation was initiated following a petition from the domestic industry.
·
New
Zealand authorities found reasonable grounds that rising imports were causing
serious injury to domestic producers.
·
Import-to-domestic
production ratio reportedly rose:
o from 50% in 2023
o to 64% in 2025.
·
Import
market share increased:
o from 33%
o to 39% during the same period.
·
MBIE cross-checked
the claims using New Zealand Customs data and concluded there were reasonable
grounds showing increased imports relative to domestic production.
·
Authorities
said imports negatively affected:
o prices,
o output,
o sales,
o market share,
o profitability,
o productivity,
o and employment of New Zealand producers.
·
The
application argued that unforeseen developments in third-country trade and
industrial policies contributed to the import surge.
·
If
injury is confirmed, New Zealand may:
o impose safeguard duties,
o or adopt safeguard measures on imports.
·
In
critical circumstances, provisional safeguard duties may also be imposed.
·
Australia
and Singapore are excluded from the investigation and any safeguard action
under existing bilateral trade agreements with New Zealand.
·
Exporters,
importers, producers, users, associations, and foreign governments may submit
written views and evidence to MBIE during the investigation.
<The notification G/SG/N/6/NZL/1>
In the notification New
Zealand indicated, among other things, as follows:
"4. Provide a point of
contact for the investigation and identify the preferred means for
corresponding. The point of contact would be available to respond to enquiries
relating to the procedures applicable to the investigation.
Point of contact for the
investigation and correspondence is:
Minister of Business,
Innovation and Employment
Trade Remedies
15 Stout Street, Wellington
Central
Wellington 6011
New Zealand
Website: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-employment/business/trade-and-tariffs/trade-remedies/trade-remedy-investigations
E-mail address:
TradeRemedies@mbie.govt.nz
5. Provide the deadlines and procedures for
importers, exporters and other interested parties to present evidence and their
views, including:
(i) deadlines and
procedures for Members and exporters to identify themselves as interested
parties, if so required, to participate in the investigation; and
(ii) the date of an intended public hearing as
provided for in Article 3.1.
[..]
To obtain the information it
deems necessary for its review investigation, MBIE will send questionnaires to
the known producers of the product concerned domestically. Questionnaires and
information sheets are encouraged to be filled out by all potential interested
persons, including international interested persons. MBIE will publish
questionnaires and information sheets which will be made available at the
website (as above).
Submission of an information
sheet will automatically register the provider as an interested person and add
them to a distribution list. All interested persons including exporters,
producers, importers and users of the products concerned and their associations,
as well as third country governments are invited to make known their views in
writing, submit information and to provide supporting evidence.
Interested persons are
entitled to request information held on the public file at any time throughout
the investigation period via the email provided above. MBIE will not release
any confidential information, unless MBIE has consent to do so by the provider
of the information. Alongside a confidential submission, interested persons are
encouraged to submit a non-confidential version or indicate if it is suitable
to be published on the public file."
A safeguard investigation
seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or is threatening
to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.
During a safeguard
investigation, importers, exporters and other interested parties may present
evidence and views and respond to the presentations of other parties.
A WTO member may take a
safeguard action (i.e. restrict imports of a product temporarily) only if the
increased imports of the product are found to be causing, or threatening to
cause, serious injury.