India-New Zealand FTA ratified, will enter into force on October 20
India and New Zealand have formally ratified a Free Trade Agreement set to take effect on October 20, 2026. The deal eliminates tariffs on all New Zealand goods entering India and 95% of Indian goods entering New Zealand.
Why it matters
This trade agreement represents a significant economic shift, aiming to diversify markets and strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.
India and New Zealand on Monday (September 21, 2026) formally ratified the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries, New Zealand’s Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay said. The FTA will come into force on October 20, 2026, he added.
The two countries had inked the FTA on April 27, 2026, which was termed by Prime Ministers of both countries as a “historic” step towards deepening trade, investment, and people-to-people ties. The agreement will see New Zealand removing all tariffs on all goods imported from India, while India will remove or reduce tariffs on 95% of current imports from New Zealand.
Earlier this month, on September 16, New Zealand’s Parliament passed legislation to implement the FTA.
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