{"id":72390,"date":"2026-04-28T18:12:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T12:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=72390"},"modified":"2026-04-28T18:13:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T12:43:42","slug":"india-newzealand-fta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/28-04-2026\/india-newzealand-fta","title":{"rendered":"India and New Zealand Signed FTA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR; GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India and New Zealand signed the<strong> India- New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (IN- NZ FTA).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The India\u2013New Zealand Free Trade Agreement <\/strong>was concluded in<strong> nine months <\/strong>and marks a key milestone in India\u2019s engagement with developed economies.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India is <strong>signing its seventh FTA<\/strong> in the last three and a half years, with plans for agreements with the <strong>European Union and the United States<\/strong>, taking the total to <strong>nine FTAs with 38 advanced economies,<\/strong> covering nearly 65\u201370% of global GDP.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a pact between two or more countries where they agree to:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduce or eliminate customs duties on goods;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Liberalise trade in services;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide investment protection;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure safeguards for intellectual property rights (IPR).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Major Highlights of the FTA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Zero-Duty Market Access<\/strong>: India- New Zealand FTA <strong>eliminates duty on 100% of Indian Exports.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has offered market<strong> access in 70.03% <\/strong>of the <strong>tariff lines while keeping 29.97 % tariff lines in exclusion.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"a9c0cb\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"496\" height=\"592\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-167.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-72391\" style=\"--dominant-color: #a9c0cb; width:384px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-167.png 496w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-167-251x300.png 251w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 496px) 100vw, 496px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>FDI Commitment:<\/strong> New Zealand will invest<strong> USD 20 billion<\/strong> in India over 15 years, strengthening long-term economic ties.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Organic Primary Products:<\/strong> Mutual recognition of organic certification to be agreed between the two sides.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MSME Cooperation: <\/strong>Institutional linkages to help small businesses access trade-related information and global markets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technical Assistance:<\/strong> Cooperation has been agreed in AYUSH, audio visual industries, tourism, sports and traditional knowledge systems.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The FTA promotes India\u2019s AYUSH systems internationally, encourages medical value travel, and positions India as a global wellness hub.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MFN Treatment:<\/strong> Commitment across 118 services sectors, with Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment in 139 sectors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Student Mobility: <\/strong>New Zealand signed Annex on Student Mobility and Post Study Work Visa for the first time with any country.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Indian students can work up to 20 hours per week while studying, even if there are policy changes in future, with extended post-study work visas (STEM Bachelor: 3 yrs; Master\u2019s: up to 3 yrs; Doctorate: up to 4 yrs).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Professional Pathways:<\/strong> A quota of 5,000 visas for skilled Indians for stay upto 3 years in the sectors of interest to India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Working Holiday Visa: <\/strong>1,000 young Indians annually can avail multiple entry in New Zealand for a period of 12 months.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Certain products are kept in exclusion<\/strong> from the dairy and agriculture sector of India, which is a huge win for labour intensive sectors.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dairy, animal products, vegetable products, sugar, artificial honey, Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils, Arms and Ammunition, Gems and Jewellery, Copper and Articles, Aluminium and articles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance to India from FTA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The India\u2013New Zealand FTA secures <strong>duty free or preferential access across a wide range of sectors.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These gains are expected to boost India\u2019s exports, create jobs, and strengthen the competitiveness of Indian industries in the Oceania region.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dedicated cooperation in Ayush and Indian traditional knowledge<\/strong> has been agreed.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Engagement with <strong>New Zealand\u2019s indigenous Maori communities<\/strong> to promote cultural exchange and mutual respect. This strengthens India\u2019s <strong>soft power and global recognition of its heritage.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gains in Horticulture Sector: <\/strong>New Zealand has agreed on <strong>focused Action Plans for kiwifruit, apples, and honey <\/strong>to improve productivity, quality, and sectoral capabilities of these<strong> fruits growers in India.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Projects for premium apple cultivators and sustainable beekeeping practices will enhance production and quality standards.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This access will be managed through a <strong>Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) system<\/strong> with Minimum Import Price and seasonal imports, ensuring consumer choice while protecting domestic farmers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India-NZ Bilateral Ties<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Currently, New Zealand is <strong>India\u2019s second-largest trading partner in Oceania.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2024, New Zealand\u2019s imports stood at USD 47 billion, while exports were USD 42 billion.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Services Trade: <\/strong>India\u2019s services exports to New Zealand grew by 13% in 2024, reaching USD 634 million. Major sectors include travel, IT, and business services.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In 2024-25,<\/strong> the exports from India to New Zealand were higher than imports from New Zealand, maintaining a positive trade balance with the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The India\u2013New Zealand Free Trade Agreement opened new avenues for comprehensive economic cooperation.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>From farmers and MSMEs to students and skilled professionals, the gains from this Agreement are expected to be broad-based.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It reinforces India\u2019s position as a trusted, forward-looking global partner and advances the vision of a globally integrated Viksit Bharat 2047.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2255914&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> India and New Zealand signed the India- New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (IN- NZ FTA). <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The India\u2013New Zealand Free Trade Agreement was concluded in nine months and marks a key milestone in India\u2019s engagement with developed economies.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> India is signing its seventh FTA in the last three and a half years, with plans for agreements with the European Union and the United States, taking the total to nine FTAs with 38 advanced economies, covering nearly 65\u201370% of global GDP.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/28-04-2026\/india-newzealand-fta \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72390"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72390\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72393,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72390\/revisions\/72393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}