India-New Zealand Free Trade Deal Eliminates Duties on Food Products

From October 20, the free trade agreement between India and New Zealand will take effect, wiping out duties on numerous processed food categories, including spices, seasonings, confectionery, bakery items, cereals, sauces, fruit juices and processed vegetables. The Trade Promotion Council of India highlighted that the immediate 100% tariff removal creates a significant advantage for Indian food processors, textile makers and light-engineering firms in the Oceania region.

Chairman Mohit Singla said the council will support MSMEs and agri-food firms in meeting technical standards and building long-term buyer relationships in New Zealand. To maximise the benefits, TPCI will run specialised exporter awareness sessions and organise targeted buyer-seller meetings focused on agri-food processing and MSME manufacturing clusters. The agreement is expected to integrate Indian value-added agricultural products into broader Indo-Pacific supply chains.