New Zealand foreign minister opposes trade pact with India, calls it 'neither free nor fair'

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, has delivered a scathing critique of the recently finalized India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), branding it as a deeply flawed arrangement that undermines the country’s key economic priorities. He argued that the pact is “neither free nor fair.” Peters cautioned that the deal represents a poor bargain for New Zealand, conceding too much while offering little in return.

In a strongly worded statement on X, Peters confirmed that his party, New Zealand First, is firmly against the agreement. He contended that while the FTA involves significant compromises on immigration and investment, it fails to secure meaningful gains for New Zealand’s most vital export industries, as per a report on India Today.

At the heart of Peters’ criticism is the exclusion of New Zealand’s powerful dairy sector from the FTA. He pointed out that while New Zealand has opened its markets extensively to Indian goods, India has not reduced tariffs on key dairy exports such as milk, cheese, and butter.