India and New Zealand conclude Free Trade Agreement negotiations
India and New Zealand announced the conclusion of Free Trade Agreement negotiations on 22 December 2025, giving zero-duty access to 100% of India's exports and a New Zealand commitment to facilitate USD 20 billion of investment over 15 years.
Summary
India and New Zealand announced the conclusion of negotiations on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 22 December 2025, one of India's fastest-concluded FTAs after talks were launched on 16 March 2025. New Zealand will eliminate duties on 100% of its tariff lines for Indian exports, while India has offered tariff liberalisation on about 70% of its lines and kept dairy, onions, sugar, spices and edible oils among the exclusions. The India–New Zealand FTA also includes a commitment to facilitate USD 20 billion of investment into India over 15 years, a Temporary Employment Entry visa quota of 5,000 professionals, and agri-technology partnerships for kiwifruit, apples and honey.
Key facts
- Concluded
- 22 December 2025
- Talks launched
- 16 March 2025 (Piyush Goyal and Todd McClay)
- NZ offer
- Zero duty on 100% of tariff lines for Indian exports
- India offer
- About 70% of tariff lines; dairy, onions, sugar, spices, edible oils excluded
- Investment
- USD 20 billion over 15 years
- Mobility
- 5,000 Temporary Employment Entry visas; post-study work up to 3 years (STEM) / 4 years (doctoral)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Under the India–New Zealand FTA concluded in December 2025, New Zealand will provide zero-duty access on what share of its tariff lines for Indian exports?
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Correct answer: C — 100%
PIB 2207300: New Zealand will eliminate tariffs on 100% of its tariff lines, giving duty-free access to all Indian exports.
How much investment has New Zealand committed to facilitate into India under the FTA concluded in December 2025?
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Correct answer: A — USD 20 billion over 15 years
PIB 2207300: New Zealand has committed to facilitate investments of USD 20 billion into India over the next fifteen years.
Consider the following statements about the India–New Zealand FTA: 1. Negotiations were formally launched on 16 March 2025. 2. India has kept dairy products out of its market access offer. 3. The FTA provides a quota of 5,000 Temporary Employment Entry visas for Indian professionals. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB 2207300: talks were launched on 16 March 2025, market access excludes dairy, and there is a quota of 5,000 Temporary Employment Entry visas. All three are correct.