NZ Finance Chief Sees Jobless Rate Falling, Shrugs Off Higher U.S. Tariff

New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she expects the country’s unemployment rate to fall later this year, citing resilient domestic demand and continued hiring across service industries. Willis also forecast that New Zealand’s export sector will maintain its recent momentum, helped by strong demand for agricultural products and a weaker kiwi dollar. She downplayed the impact of Washington’s recent increase in tariffs on New Zealand goods, arguing that the affected volumes are small and that exporters have already diversified into alternative markets.