India-New Zealand Conclude Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement; 100% Market Access for Indian Exports to New Zealand Announced on December 22, 2025

India and New Zealand on December 22, 2025 concluded negotiations on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), making it India's fastest trade deal with a developed economy after negotiations were launched on March 16, 2025. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that New Zealand will grant zero-duty market access on 100 per cent of its tariff lines covering Indian exports, benefitting farmers, MSMEs, artisans, women-led enterprises, and youth, and creating opportunities for labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel, leather and footwear. A dedicated quota of around 5,000 temporary employment visas for skilled Indian professionals — including yoga instructors, chefs, AYUSH professionals and nurses — has been agreed, and the pact supports multi-year work pathways for Indian students and professionals. India has opened 118 services sectors for Indian participation in tourism, IT, telecommunications, and audio-visual services. India has firmly excluded dairy and select sensitive farm products from market access, and will never open up the dairy sector under any FTA, Goyal reiterated. The agreement extends beyond trade to education, R&D, innovation, services, tourism, sports, AYUSH, culture, fisheries, and traditional knowledge. It is expected to be signed in the first half of 2026, and aims to double bilateral trade to USD 5 billion within five years of implementation.