New Zealand’s Foreign Minister and leader of the New Zealand First party, Winston Peters, has strongly criticised the recently announced India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), calling it “neither free nor fair.” He said the deal favours India too much while offering limited benefits to New Zealand, particularly for farmers and workers. Peters said his party is “regrettably opposed” and intends to vote against the legislation when it is introduced in Parliament.
Peters highlighted that the FTA excludes major dairy products such as milk, cheese, and butter from tariff reductions. Dairy is a critical part of New Zealand’s economy, accounting for a significant share of export earnings. He argued that excluding these products undermines the interests of farmers and rural communities, leaving New Zealand at a disadvantage compared to India, which gets full duty-free access for its exports.
He also raised concerns about labour mobility and immigration provisions in the deal. The FTA allows broader access for Indian workers and post-study work rights for Indian students, which Peters warned could strain New Zealand’s already tight labour market. He noted that New Zealand had made concessions that go beyond similar agreements with countries like Australia and the United Kingdom, which he considers unfair to local workers.
Peters said his party had urged the government to use a longer negotiation period to secure a more balanced deal with stronger protections for New Zealand industries and workers. He criticised the agreement as being rushed and “low-quality,” reflecting insufficient attention to domestic interests.
The FTA, announced by both governments, aims to expand trade, investment, and cooperation between India and New Zealand. India will gain duty-free access for all exports, including textiles, apparel, leather, marine products, and engineering goods. New Zealand has pledged to invest up to $20 billion in India over the next 15 years, mainly in manufacturing and infrastructure.
Despite these potential benefits, Peters’ opposition introduces uncertainty about the FTA’s parliamentary approval and future implementation.
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