FTA negotiations: India playing it on the front foot against New Zealand

With elections likely later this year, and given India's influence in the Indo-Pacific, a trade deal is important for the island nation, even more given the turmoil in global trade

At first glance, striking a trade deal with a country whose population is smaller than Pune’s might seem trivial. However, at a time when United States President Donald Trump has waged an unprecedented tariff war, targeting both allies and adversaries alike, India and New Zealand reviving negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) after a decade long hiatus appears less surprising. 

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who was in New Delhi last week, even said he looked forward to concluding the trade deal in a record 60 days, indicating Wellington’s urgency in finalising the deal at the earliest.