New Zealand Businesses to Benefit from India Trade Deal, Says PM Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister says 57% of New Zealand’s exports to India will become tariff-free from day one under the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that 57 per cent of the country's exports to India will become tariff-free from the first day under the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA). His remarks came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to New Zealand from July 10 to 11.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said that 57 per cent of New Zealand’s exports to India will receive tariff-free access from the first day of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
In a post on X, Luxon said:
“New Zealand businesses are set to boom with our India Trade Deal” and “57 per cent of everything we export to India will be tariff free from day one.”
His comments came ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to New Zealand from July 10 to 11, marking the first state visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in nearly 40 years. The visit follows an invitation from Prime Minister Luxon.
Referring to the visit, Prime Minister Modi had earlier stated:
“visit will meaningfully build upon the strong momentum in our bilateral ties pursuant to the visit of Prime Minister Luxon to India in March 2025”.
Prime Minister Modi also said:
“During my visit, I shall discuss with Prime Minister Luxon how to further enhance economic, trade and commercial engagements.”
He further noted that India and New Zealand have committed themselves to strengthening bilateral trade and commercial ties through the signing of the Free Trade Agreement.
Prime Minister Modi also stated that the Indian diaspora has made significant contributions to India–New Zealand relations and that he looks forward to addressing a large gathering of the Indian community, “who have excelled in all spheres of life”.
On April 27 this year, India and New Zealand finalised the Free Trade Agreement, marking a significant development in bilateral relations.
Luxon described the India–New Zealand FTA as a once-in-a-generation opportunity, highlighting the scale and potential of the Indian market. He also referred to India's emergence as a rapidly expanding consumer economy and said the agreement positions New Zealand to align closely with India's economic trajectory as it moves toward becoming one of the world's largest economies.