EconomySunday, 1 November 2026·The Hindu - Economy
India–New Zealand FTA: full duty-free access for exports, 95% tariff coverage and new visa routes
India’s FTA with New Zealand took effect on 20 October 2026, giving full duty-free access for Indian exports and new visa commitments for Indians.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In October 2026, the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement came into force on 20 October after being signed on 27 April in New Delhi and ratified on 21 September, giving Indian exporters 100% duty-free access to New Zealand markets.
Key specifics
- India gets 100% duty-free access across all tariff lines, the first FTA for India to do so from the date of entry into force.
- New Zealand’s exports to India get tariff-free or sharply reduced access on 95% of its export lines.
- India offers tariff concessions on 70% of its tariff lines, covering about 95% of current bilateral trade value.
- The deal includes $20 billion worth of foreign direct investment into India, as stated in the report.
- New visa commitments include two Temporary Employment Entry (TEE) categories and up to 5,000 TEE visa holders at any one time.
Exam lens
TNPSC economy and international trade question type: match the agreement with date, tariff coverage and visa provisions; remember 20 October 2026, 100% duty-free access for India, 95% of New Zealand exports covered, and 5,000 TEE visas.