📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / President's Secretariat
International
India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Enters Force Today
✍️ ET Government
🗓 20 Oct 2026, 03:36 PM
👁 17
India and New Zealand have activated their free trade agreement, marking a new chapter in bilateral trade amid global protectionist trends.
India and New Zealand have officially brought their long‑delayed free trade agreement into force today, following a series of negotiations that spanned several years. The pact, which was signed in 2022, is now operational and aims to deepen economic ties between the two countries.
Key provisions of the agreement include the elimination of most tariffs on goods such as dairy products, seafood, and agricultural commodities, as well as enhanced market access for services and investment. The FTA also covers intellectual property rights, e‑commerce, and regulatory cooperation.
Trade between India and New Zealand has grown steadily, with bilateral exports reaching $3.5 billion in 2023. The agreement is expected to boost exports of Indian pharmaceuticals, textiles, and IT services to New Zealand, while New Zealand’s dairy and wine exports will find easier entry into the Indian market.
Officials from both governments welcomed the activation, noting that the pact will provide a framework for future collaboration and help both economies navigate an increasingly protectionist global environment.
Key provisions of the agreement include the elimination of most tariffs on goods such as dairy products, seafood, and agricultural commodities, as well as enhanced market access for services and investment. The FTA also covers intellectual property rights, e‑commerce, and regulatory cooperation.
Trade between India and New Zealand has grown steadily, with bilateral exports reaching $3.5 billion in 2023. The agreement is expected to boost exports of Indian pharmaceuticals, textiles, and IT services to New Zealand, while New Zealand’s dairy and wine exports will find easier entry into the Indian market.
Officials from both governments welcomed the activation, noting that the pact will provide a framework for future collaboration and help both economies navigate an increasingly protectionist global environment.