New Zealand passes India FTA, opening tariff relief across consumer-goods categories
New Zealand’s Parliament has approved legislation for its trade agreement with India. The pact will progressively cut duties on food, textiles, leather, jewellery and other categories, with India liberalising 70% of tariff lines covering about 95% of bilateral trade value.
What happened
retail-company · New Zealand approved legislation implementing its FTA with India. The pact lowers tariffs across food, textiles, leather, jewellery and other
Key facts
- 93-29 parliamentary vote
- 57% of New Zealand exports to India duty-free on implementation
- 95% of New Zealand exports subject to eliminated or significantly reduced tariffs when fully implemented
- 100% of New Zealand tariff lines duty-free
- India liberalizes 70% of tariff lines, covering about 95% of bilateral trade value
- US$20 billion investment commitment over 15 years
- US$2.4 billion bilateral goods and services trade in 2024
- US$125 million estimated kiwifruit tariff savings over five years
Why this matters
Companies should screen Indian distribution, local manufacturing and brand-partnership targets that can accelerate access to a market newly opened by liberalisation across 70% of tariff lines.