Key Highlights:

• Zero-Duty Access: New Zealand provides 100% duty-free access for Indian textile and engineering exports.
• Labor Mobility: Implementation of the “Temporary Employment Entry” for 5,000 Indian professionals.
• Agricultural Safeguards: Continued protection for India’s sensitive dairy and spice sectors.

January 2026 marks the first full month of operation for the landmark India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Officially concluded in late 2025, the agreement enters its primary implementation phase this month. The Department of Commerce (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) has issued guidelines for exporters to utilize the new Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs).

Geopolitically, this FTA signifies India’s deepening engagement with the Indo-Pacific region. The agreement is “people-centric,” focusing on post-study work rights for Indian students in New Zealand and faster regulatory approvals for pharmaceutical products. This deal is projected to catalyze a $20 billion investment flow over the next decade, bolstering India’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision.