New Zealand says agreed free trade deal with India

Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand said Monday it had agreed a wide ranging free trade deal with India that eliminates tariffs on 95 percent of the...

Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand said Monday it had agreed a wide-ranging free-trade deal with India that eliminates tariffs on 95 percent of the Pacific country's exports.

Trade and investment minister Todd McClay said the deal, which comes into effect in the first half of next year, gave unprecedented access to India's 1.4 billion consumers.

"This once-in-a-generation agreement creates opportunities New Zealand exporters have never had in India," McClay said, adding that it "will deliver thousands of jobs and billions in additional exports".

New Zealand's conservative National Party-led coalition government made a promise in 2024 that it would negotiate a deal with India, after the previous, left-leaning Labour administration was unable to get one across the line.

The deal simplifies entry to New Zealand for some Indian workers, including 1,667 temporary work visas each year for the information and communications technology sector, engineering and some health services.