FTA Talks Advance Between India and New Zealand in New Delhi

In a major step towards increasing bilateral trade, India and New Zealand wrapped up the second round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in New Delhi on July 25, reflecting continued progress towards an exhaustive agreement.

The negotiations, which were conducted between July 14 to 25, addressed priority areas such as Trade in Goods and Services, Investment, Rules of Origin, Customs Procedures, Technical Barriers to Trade, and Economic Cooperation.

According to an official press note, “Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to concluding a balanced, comprehensive, and forward-looking agreement.” Discussions reportedly reflected mutual interest in achieving early convergence on several texts.

Key Highlights:

• India and New Zealand concluded the second round of FTA talks in New Delhi, covering key areas like trade, investment, and economic cooperation
• Bilateral trade reached USD 1.3 billion in 2024–25, marking a 48.6 percent increase over the previous year
• The third round of negotiations is scheduled for September in New Zealand, with virtual sessions planned in the interim

The current FTA talks are guided by the directions set out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon during their meeting in March 2025. The exercise was launched formally on March 16 following talks between Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay.

India's trade in goods with New Zealand reached USD 1.3 billion in 2024–25, a 48.6 percent increase over the preceding year, reflecting increased momentum in economic engagements.

Also Read: UK and India Sign Historic Free Trade Agreement

The third round will take place in New Zealand in September, while intersessional virtual sessions will continue the pace of negotiations in between. The deal is poised to increase trade flows, deepen investment connections, and enhance the resilience of supply chains.

“This development catalyses the common agenda to strengthen economic ties" the announcement highlighted, noting the significance of the FTA in fostering an enabling climate for business in both nations.