India and New Zealand Advance FTA Talks in Auckland
The fourth round of negotiations for the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) commenced on November 3, 2025, in Auckland, marking significant progress toward a balanced and mutually beneficial trade partnership.
Key Negotiation Areas
According to India’s commerce ministry, this round focuses on critical areas including:
- Trade in Goods
- Trade in Services
- Rules of Origin
The ministry stated that both sides are “working constructively to build on the progress achieved in earlier rounds, to reach convergence on outstanding issues and move towards the early conclusion of the FTA.”
Building on High-Level Engagement
The current negotiations build on the shared commitment to deepen economic ties and guidance provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit in March 2025. The FTA was officially launched during the March 16, 2025 meeting between Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s Trade Minister Todd McClay.
Both nations have reiterated their commitment to developing a forward-looking and inclusive trade framework that supports sustainable growth and shared prosperity.
India’s Expanding Trade Portfolio
India is actively negotiating trade agreements with nearly a dozen countries, including the United States, European Union, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Qatar. The coming months are expected to be critical as these negotiations could redefine India’s role in global trade architecture.
Over the past five years, India has secured several significant trade deals:
- India-Mauritius CECPA (2021)
- India-UAE CEPA (2022)
- India-Australia ECTA (2022)
- India-EFTA TEPA (2024)
- India-UK CETA (2025 – yet to come into force)
Additionally, negotiations for a comprehensive trade deal with Oman, which began in 2023, were recently concluded.
