Stories
India-New Zealand Trade Pact to Boost Agri, Processed Food Exports
- •The free trade agreement between India and New Zealand will come into force from October 20.
- •The pact is expected to significantly boost domestic farm products and processed food sectors.
- •Tariffs on processed foods, spices, confectionery, and other items will drop from up to 5 percent to zero immediately.
- •Indian exporters, especially in food processing, textiles, and light engineering, will gain a competitive edge in Oceania.
- •TPCI will assist MSMEs and agri-food businesses to leverage tariff concessions and build buyer relationships in New Zealand.
Key Questions Answered
The free trade agreement between India and New Zealand will officially come into force on October 20, 2026, according to announcements made by the trade promotion body TPCI.
Under the trade agreement, tariffs on processed foods, spices, seasonings, confectionery, bakery goods, packaged cereals, sauces, fruit juices, and processed vegetables will drop to zero on Day One. Additionally, Indian exporters in food processing, textiles, and light engineering gain an unparalleled competitive edge in Oceania.
The Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) will assist MSMEs and agri-food businesses to leverage tariff concessions, meet technical standards, and build long-term buyer relationships in New Zealand. Furthermore, TPCI plans to conduct specialised exporter awareness sessions and targeted buyer-seller meets focused on agri-food processing and MSME manufacturing clusters.
