If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- What has New Zealand been affected by?
- How much is the additional tariff?
- What are tariffs, according to the speaker?
- What reason for tariffs is given?
- What has New Zealand entered into over the past 50 years?
- Which sector may the tariffs negatively affect?
- What concerns do Kiwi businesses have?
- Who are they shifting their focus to?
- What has the New Zealand Foreign Minister said?
- What is currently being negotiated?
- Why does the NZ Government want to strengthen ties with India?
Text
Like other countries around the world, New Zealand has been affected by the tariffs imposed by President Trump. A 10 percent additional tariff applies to most New Zealand goods entering the United States, on top of the usual tariffs.
Tariffs are taxes imposed on goods which are imported into a country. The reason for tariffs is usually to protect local industries. In the past New Zealand imposed tariffs on other countries’ goods, as a way of raising money. However, in the last fifty years New Zealand has entered into free trade agreements, whereby tariffs are reduced for both parties to the agreements.
The tariffs that the United States has recently imposed may negatively affect New Zealand exporters. Although there has not been any significant impact yet, two-thirds of Kiwi businesses think these tariffs would have a more severe global impact than Covid-19 and the Global Financial Crisis, according to a survey conducted at the beginning of June. The businesses are also concerned about the uncertainty around tariffs, as President Trump has often changed his plans for them. Consequently, some businesses are shifting their focus to other trade partners, especially those closer to home.
New Zealand has not imposed reciprocal tariffs on the United States. The Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, said in April that it was not good to use terms such as ‘a trade war’, and that because New Zealand is a small country, it is better for the Government to be cautious and practical. He wanted to keep focussing on dialogue and diplomacy.
In other trade news, following the Prime Minister’s trip to India in April this year, New Zealand and India are currently in negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. Virtual discussions started in April, and the first round of in-person negotiations was held in New Delhi from 5 to 9 May. The Minister for Trade and Investment, Todd McClay, said that the Government wants to strengthen ties with India in order to diversify and grow New Zealand’s export markets.
Vocabulary
Note: tariff is explained in the text
goods – things that are produced in order to be sold
whereby – by means of which
Global Financial Crisis – a major financial crisis in 2008 which started in the United States and affected countries around the world
reciprocal – involving doing the same thing to each other; if two countries impose reciprocal tariffs, country A imposes tariffs on country B, and country B imposes tariffs on country A
dialogue – conversation
diplomacy – the job or activity of managing relationships between countries
negotiation – discussion between two groups in order to reach an agreement
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer
a. What has New Zealand been affected by?
The tariffs imposed by President Trump
b. How much is the additional tariff?
10%
c. What are tariffs, according to the speaker?
Taxes imposed on goods imported into a country
d. What reason for tariffs is given?
To protect local industries
e. What has New Zealand entered into over the past 50 years?
Free trade agreements
f. Which sector may the tariffs negatively affect?
New Zealand exporters
g. What concerns do many Kiwi businesses have?
That the tariffs will have a more severe global impact than Covid-19 and the Global Financial Crisis; the uncertainty around tariffs
h. Who are they shifting their focus to?
Other trade partners, especially those closer to home
i. What has the New Zealand Foreign Minister said?
It’s not good to use terms such as ‘a trade war’; because NZ is a small country, it is better for the Government to be cautious and practical; he wants to keep focusing on dialogue and diplomacy
j. What is currently being negotiated?
A comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between NZ and India
k. Why does the NZ Government want to strengthen ties with India?
To diversify and grow New Zealand’s export markets