New Zealand’s PM Christopher Luxon, on Saturday, hailed the free trade agreement with India, saying that the deal fulfilled a key promise made by his government.
“We said we’d secure a Free Trade Agreement with India in our first term, and we’ve delivered." He further added that this "landmark deal means more jobs, higher incomes and more exports by opening the door to 1.4 billion Indian consumers.”
“Fixing the Basics. Building the Future,” he wrote on X.
The two nations had concluded a long-awaited free trade agreement earlier this week, bringing closing negotiations that began in March this year and marking a significant milestone in bilateral ties.
Under the agreement, tariffs will be eliminated or reduced on 95% of New Zealand’s exports to India, one of the highest coverage levels achieved under any Indian free trade agreement. Of this, 57% of exports will be duty-free from day one, rising to 82% once the agreement is fully implemented, with the remaining 13% subject to significant tariff reductions.
The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement was announced on Monday after a telephone conversation between
PM Modi and Luxon, during which both leaders described the pact as historic, ambitious and mutually beneficial.
They said the agreement would act as a catalyst for deeper trade, investment, innovation and shared opportunities between the two countries.
The leaders also welcomed progress across other areas of cooperation, including defence, sports, education and people-to-people ties, and agreed to remain in touch as the partnership enters a new phase following the signing of the agreement.
Negotiations for the FTA were initiated during Luxon’s visit to India, with both sides noting that the successful conclusion of talks within a record nine months reflected strong political will and a shared ambition to further strengthen bilateral relations.
Hailing the deal, PM Modi said, “My friend PM Christopher Luxon and I had a very good conversation a short while ago following the conclusion of the landmark India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.”
Both sides said that the agreement would strengthen economic engagement while laying the groundwork for closer collaboration across a range of sectors.
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