US EditionFran O’Sullivan: Why India’s FTA Win Could Reshape Our Exports – and Our Politics
Winston Peters calls the New Zealand-India free trade agreement politically driven and highlights limited dairy sector benefits with protections favoring India, saying the deal was rushed.
- On Monday, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement is `neither free nor fair` and vowed that his New Zealand First party will oppose the deal in New Zealand Parliament.
- Peters said the deal was rushed to meet a government timetable, with negotiators given almost a year to go on the three-year target from 2023 and political timing driving haste.
- According to Peters and official figures, New Zealand dairy exports were valued at around 13.94 billion USD as of November 2025, yet India retained protections and excluded key products, limiting gains for New Zealand farmers.
- The FTA is expected to be signed in the first quarter of 2026, with New Zealand First's opposition possibly delaying parliamentary approval until 2027 but unlikely to stop the deal.
- The deal includes a $15 billion investment plan and 5,000 skilled-occupation visa cap, aiming to boost bilateral trade to $5 billion within five years.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Why New Zealand Foreign Minister slammed trade agreement with India: ‘Bad deal’
New Zealand First opposes the India FTA, calling it "neither free nor fair" and raising concerns over dairy export restrictions and immigration concessions. Critics warn the deal may hurt NZ farmers and national interests.
Why is the New Zealand foreign minister opposing the free trade deal with India?
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters has called the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with India ‘neither free nor fair’. Peters, who co-founded the New Zealand First Party, which is part of the right-wing coalition government, has vowed to oppose the deal in his country’s parliament. Let’s take a closer look at why Peters is upset
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters opposes FTA with India: What he said on the 'low-quality deal'
Calling the agreement a "bad deal" for New Zealand, Winston Peters, whose New Zealand First is a coalition partner in the National-led government, said his country has given too much away in signing the FTA, particularly on immigration. He said New Zealand has failed to secure enough in return for the country's citizens, including on dairy.
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