In a bid to shore up economic resilience amid global uncertainty worsened by the Middle East conflict, India and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement on Monday. Negotiations concluded in December 2025, and the deal gives India greater market access for engineering goods, machinery, and textiles, while protecting its politically sensitive dairy sector.
“This forward-looking agreement will also facilitate $20 billion of investment into India,” Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said after signing alongside New Zealand counterpart Todd McClay. In return, New Delhi has offered to reduce tariff barriers on forestry products, lamb, and wool, while granting quota-based access in other sectors. The agreement is notable not only for its economic substance but for its timing — a signal that both countries are actively seeking to diversify trade partnerships during a period of profound global disruption.
