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India-NZ FTA Talks: Fourth Round Begins Amid Growing Trade Partnership

India and New Zealand have kicked off their fourth round of free trade agreement talks in Auckland. The negotiations focus on crucial areas including trade in goods and services. This builds on their growing bilateral trade relationship that reached $1.3 billion last year. Both countries are working toward an early conclusion of what they call a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement.

Key Points: India New Zealand Fourth Round FTA Trade Negotiations

  • Fourth round negotiations held in Auckland from November 3-7 focusing on key trade areas
  • Discussions cover trade in goods, services and Rules of Origin framework
  • Bilateral trade grew 49% to $1.3 billion in FY2024-25
  • FTA aims to boost investment, strengthen supply chains and create business predictability
2 min read

India, New Zealand begin 4th round of mutually-beneficial FTA talks

India and New Zealand begin fourth round of FTA talks in Auckland, focusing on goods, services trade and building on $1.3 billion bilateral trade partnership.

"Both sides are working constructively to build on the progress achieved in earlier rounds - Commerce Ministry Statement"

New Delhi, Nov 3

India and New Zealand on Monday began the fourth round of negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Auckland.

The trade talks (November 3-7) mark another step forward in advancing a balanced, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial partnership between the two nations, according to a Commerce Ministry statement.

Negotiations in this round are focusing on key areas, including trade in goods, trade in services, and Rules of Origin.

Both sides are working constructively to build on the progress achieved in earlier rounds, to reach convergence on outstanding issues and move towards the early conclusion of the FTA.

The negotiations build on the shared commitment to deepen economic ties and guidance given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit of Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, in March 2025.

The FTA was launched during the meeting between Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Todd McClay, Minister for Trade and Investment, New Zealand on March 16.

India and New Zealand reiterated their commitment to developing a forward-looking and inclusive trade framework that supports sustainable growth and shared prosperity for both economies.

Earlier, the third round of negotiations for the India-New Zealand FTA concluded successfully in Queenstown in September. The discussions reaffirmed the shared commitment of both nations to strengthen economic ties and work towards the early conclusion of a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement, according to a statement by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The third round, held from September 15-19, witnessed constructive discussions across all areas of the agreement. Several chapters were concluded, and significant progress was achieved in other key domains.

India's bilateral merchandise trade with New Zealand stood at $1.3 billion in FY2024-25, registering a growth of nearly 49 per cent over the previous year. The proposed FTA is expected to further boost trade flows, promote investment linkages, strengthen supply chain resilience, and create a predictable framework for businesses in both countries.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The 49% growth in trade is impressive! This FTA could be a game-changer for Indian exporters. Hope our negotiators ensure good market access for our textiles, engineering goods, and IT services.
M
Michael C
While FTAs are important, I hope our government is being careful about protecting our farmers' interests. New Zealand is a major dairy exporter and we need to ensure our agricultural sector isn't adversely affected.
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Ananya R
This is wonderful news! More trade agreements mean more opportunities for Indian businesses and professionals. The focus on services trade is particularly important for our IT and healthcare sectors. Jai Hind! 🙏
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Siddharth J
Good to see constructive progress. The Rules of Origin chapter is crucial to prevent third countries from misusing the agreement. Hope our negotiators are ensuring robust provisions to protect Indian industry interests.
J
Jessica F
As someone working in the export sector, I'm really looking forward to this agreement. New Zealand could be a great market for Indian handicrafts and specialty foods. The simplified customs procedures will be a big help!

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