India and New Zealand Begin Fourth Round of FTA Negotiations

India and New Zealand Begin Fourth Round of FTA Negotiations

Issue: To advance negotiations for a comprehensive, balanced, and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand, fulfilling the commitment to deepen economic ties.

Facts:

• The negotiations for the India-New Zealand FTA were launched earlier following guidance from the Prime Ministers of both countries.
• The FTA negotiations were launched on March 16, 2025.
• The Fourth Round of negotiations commenced in Auckland, New Zealand, and is scheduled from November 3-7, 2025.

Decision:

The Fourth Round of negotiations officially began, focusing on reaching convergence on outstanding issues to move toward the early conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement.

Key TakeDowns:

• Focus Areas: The negotiations in this round are specifically focusing on key areas: Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, and Rules of Origin.
• Mutual Benefit: Both India and New Zealand reiterated their commitment to developing a forward-looking and inclusive trade framework that supports sustainable growth and shared prosperity.
• Objective: The goal is to reach convergence on remaining outstanding issues and work constructively toward the early conclusion of the FTA.

Source :- PIB2185965