New Zealand Parliament voted to approve a free trade agreement with India on Thursday, clearing a path for duty‑free access to 1.4 billion Indian consumers. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon posted on social media that the deal is now official, noting that the National government had promised an FTA in its first term.
Under the pact, all Indian exports will enter New Zealand duty‑free, while New Zealand will slash tariffs on wine and reduce import duties for specified quantities of apples, kiwis and honey. The agreement also eases visa rules for Indian professionals and opens Indian services to New Zealand firms.
Farmers in Hawke’s Bay say the tariff cuts will let their apple shipments compete better with imports, potentially saving thousands of dollars per shipment. Small‑business owners across Wellington also anticipate new market opportunities.
New Zealand has pledged $20 billion in investment to India, a move that the government says will strengthen bilateral trade ties and support development projects. The investment package will be rolled out alongside the FTA’s operational launch.
The agreement is set to become operational next month, with a formal launch meeting slated for early October. Industry representatives expect the first wave of trade flows to arrive by the end of the year.