New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced that 57% of the country's exports to India will be eligible for tariff-free treatment, a significant step toward broader economic integration between the two nations.
The disclosure comes just ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to New Zealand, which forms the final leg of his three-nation diplomatic tour across the Indo-Pacific region.
The announcement underscores New Zealand's strategic push to diversify its trade relationships beyond traditional partners in the Asia-Pacific.
By securing duty-free access for more than half of its export basket, Wellington aims to boost sectors ranging from dairy and meat to horticulture, which have long faced non-tariff barriers and high duties in the Indian market.
This development marks a tangible outcome of ongoing bilateral trade negotiations, signaling a shift from dialogue to concrete market access improvements.
Modi's visit to New Zealand is part of a broader diplomatic effort to consolidate India's strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific.