NZ-India free trade agreement enters into force

New Zealand's free trade agreement with India has officially entered into force.

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay said 57 percent of New Zealand exports to India are now tariff-free, RNZ reported.

Sheep meat, wool, coal and most forestry products are tariff-free from entry into force. The minister said the share of exports entering without tariffs will rise to 82 percent over time.

The next round of tariff cuts is due from 1 January 2027.

McClay said talks were launched in March 2025 and concluded in nine months. The agreement was signed in New Delhi by McClay and India's Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, according to a Beehive statement in April, Beehive.

For wine, Indian tariffs of 150 percent will fall to 25 percent or 50 percent over 10 years.

Parliament passed the agreement in September with what the government described as a significant majority. McClay later exchanged formal documents with India's High Commissioner to New Zealand to ratify the deal, Beehive. The government said at the time it would follow the usual parliamentary process for examining treaties before ratification.