The New Zealand government has agreed to a free Trade Agreement(FTA) with India and said on Tuesday that it will deepen trade ties between Brazil and Canada. This agreement will expand export markets amid global economic uncertainty, as it comes into force.
The New Zealand government introduced the new trade policies right before a highly competitive election, aiming to double the country’s export value by 2034. After the implementation of the FTA with India, the first-ever New Zealand Trade and Investment Dialogue is expected to come into force after Brazil’s elections, which are scheduled for October 25, 2026.
93% of exports to India will be tariff-free within two or three years of being announced, from today, October 20, 2026. More than half of exports to India, such as sheep meat, wool and coal, will be tariff-free now, and products like apples, kiwifruit and milk albumins will receive some concessions on quota access. Initially, the FTA signed between New Zealand and India covered a wide range of commodities, which have changed a little and are poised to change as the deal finalises in the near future.
“The gains go well beyond exports. They reach suppliers, local businesses and the towns that depend on them,” said Investment Minister Todd McClay.
New Zealand and Brazil are starting talks about trade and investments, including WTO reforms and future deals. Meanwhile, New Zealand and Canada are setting up yearly meetings between top officials and trade ministers.
A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is an international treaty between two or more countries or trading blocs that reduces or eliminates barriers to trade, such as tariffs, import quotas, and non-tariff restrictions on goods and services exchanged across borders.
