New Zealand Parliament Passes Legislation to Implement the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

16 September 2026National

New Zealand's Parliament passed the legislation implementing the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 16 September 2026, approving the bill by 93 votes to 29. The agreement was signed in New Delhi on 27 April 2026, after negotiations that began in March 2025 and concluded in December 2025, and will enter into force once both countries complete ratification. It eliminates or reduces tariffs on about 95% of New Zealand's exports to India, while Indian goods receive 100% duty-free access to New Zealand. Two-way trade reached NZ$3.99 billion in the year to June 2026, and both sides aim to double bilateral trade by 2030.

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New Zealand's capital is Wellington, its largest city is Auckland and its currency is the New Zealand Dollar; Christopher Luxon is its Prime Minister | India's other recent trade pacts include the UAE CEPA (2022), the Australia ECTA (2022) and the India-UK CETA, in force from 15 July 2026 | A Free Trade Agreement removes tariffs between members but, unlike a customs union, leaves each member free to set its own external tariffs

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