Hon Todd McClay
Minister for Trade and Investment

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay departs for New Delhi today to sign the New Zealand – India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), leading a cross-party delegation including MPs and more than 30 Kiwi business representatives.

“This landmark agreement provides huge opportunities for New Zealand exporters in one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economies,” Mr McClay says.

“The signing of this FTA is the latest example of the Government delivering on its promise to strengthen our relationship with India and supports New Zealand’s ambitious goal of doubling the value of exports in 10 years.”

Negotiations concluded in December 2025.

In India, Mr McClay will mark Anzac Day in a dawn service where he will recognise New Zealanders, Australians and Indians who fought for their country.

He will also host a joint New Zealand-India business summit with Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.

Mr McClay will also stop in Singapore where he will undertake trade and investment promotion activities.

“A trade agreement with India has been a long ambition for New Zealand. The signature of the NZ-India FTA is an occasion to celebrate.”

Key outcomesfor New Zealandinclude:

• Tariff elimination or reduction on 95 per cent of our exports.
• Duty-free accessonalmost 57 per centof New Zealand’s exports from day one,increasingto 82per cent when fully implemented, with the remaining 13 per cent being subject to sharp tariff cuts.
• Immediate tariff elimination on sheep meat, wool, coal and over 95 per cent of forestryand woodexports.
• Duty-free accesson most seafood exports, including mussels and salmon, over seven years.
• Duty-free accesson most iron,steelandscrap aluminium, over 10 yearsor less.
• Duty-free access for most industrial products, over five to 10 years
• 50 per cent tariff cut forlarge quotaof apples – nearly double recent average exports.
• Duty-free access forkiwifruit within a quota almost four times ourrecent average exports, and tariff halved forexportsoutside ofquota.
• Duty-free access forcherries, avocados,persimmonsandblueberries, over10 years.
• Tariffs on wine reducedfrom 150 per cent toeither25or50 per cent (depending on the value of the wine) over 10 yearsplusa MostFavouredNation (MFN)commitment.
• Tariffs onmānukahoneycutfrom 66 per cent to 16.5 per cent over five years.
• MFNstatus and liberalisation across services exports.
• Duty-free accessfordairy and otherfood ingredientsfor re-exportfrom day one.
• Duty-free accessfor bulk infant formula and otherhigh-valuedairypreparationsover seven years.
• 50 per cent tariff cut for high value milk albumins within a NZ-specific quota equal to current export volumes.

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