India-New Zealand free trade deal kicks in on Oct 20 with duty-free access

The India-New Zealand free trade agreement comes into force on October 20, granting Indian exports duty-free access and targeting USD 2.4 billion trade to reach NZD 7 billion by 2030.

India's free trade agreement with New Zealand comes into force on October 20, a Commerce Ministry presentation confirmed, giving Indian goods duty-free entry into the New Zealand market. The pact, signed in New Delhi on April 27, 2026, completed ratification in September and aims to open fresh channels for Indian exporters at a time of shifting global trade flows.

Labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel, leather and footwear stand to gain immediately, with tariffs of up to 10 per cent falling to zero from day one. Engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, machinery, chemicals and agricultural products are also expected to benefit, while faster customs clearance and digital certification should cut delays at the border.

Both sides have set an ambitious target under the Strategic Partnership Roadmap: doubling bilateral trade in goods and services to NZD 7 billion, roughly Rs 35,000 crore, by 2030. Current two-way trade stands at USD 2.4 billion, and New Delhi sees the deal as a stepping stone toward trade agreements with Canada and others.