Indian exporters can help New Zealand cut China dependence, boost shipments: GTRI

Indian exporters across various sectors have significant potential to increase shipments to New Zealand, helping the island nation reduce its reliance on China. Despite a bilateral free trade agreement, India’s current share in New Zealand’s imports is minimal across key categories like agriculture, petroleum, and apparel, indicating a largely untapped market.

India’s trade focus must shift from signing new deals to maximising existing free trade agreements for export growth, especially in electronics, engineering, and textiles. Facing a challenging global trade environment with rising protectionism and new climate barriers, the nation’s export success in 2026 hinges on domestic execution, including quality upgrades and cost reduction, rather than […]

India and the European Union are set for crucial trade talks in early January. Discussions will cover geographical indications, critical mineral exports, and the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism. India’s steel export concerns are also on the agenda. Officials are working towards a swift agreement.

India has granted New Zealand market access for apples under a new trade pact. The agreement includes safeguards to protect local farmers. A concessional duty applies only to a specific quota. Imports beyond this quota will face the full existing duty.

India has announced reforms to simplify import quality checks, reducing paperwork and inspection times. This move addresses U.S. concerns about burdensome requirements and aims to accelerate trade processes. The reforms are part of ongoing trade discussions between India and Washington.

The India-US relationship, once envisioned as a natural alliance, has become unpredictable, oscillating between warmth and confrontation. Despite public bonhomie and early trade discussions, sharp trade actions and mixed geopolitical signals have strained ties, driven by domestic US politics and strategic interests.

India and New Zealand have signed a free trade agreement. This pact will boost financial services cooperation. It includes new rules for digital payments, fintech, data transfer, and back-office services. The agreement aims to make India a global fintech hub. It will also encourage more investment and business presence between the two nations.

India is in active trade talks with the United States. The goal is to regain better market access for Indian exporters. Discussions aim to conclude soon. This development comes as the US imposed tariffs on Indian goods. India’s ambitious export target for 2030 faces global trade uncertainties. However, efforts continue to achieve significant export growth.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that despite challenges in the US, Indian exporters have maintained their exports in that market. The secretary was addressing exporters in a programme organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).

Besides zero-duty access for India’s labour-intensive sectors including textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, marine products, handicrafts, engineering goods and automobiles, New Zealand has pledged to invest $20 billion in the country over a period of 15 years. India has offered tariff liberalisation in 70% tariff lines covering 95% of bilateral trade.