Mackle predicts bilateral trade boost as FTA set for rapid rollout

Speaking in an exclusive interview, New Zealand’s Trade Minister Todd Mackle said the free‑trade agreement with India could be in force within a month after the exchange of diplomatic notes. He pointed out that the New Zealand House of Representatives showed strong bipartisan support, with 93 members voting for the pact. The next phase involves formalising the agreement in law and then notifying India, which is expected to reciprocate promptly. Both countries have vowed to double their trade by the end of the decade, and Mackle called the FTA one of the most beneficial ever signed by New Zealand. He listed sectors such as high‑value food items, horticulture, meat and dairy that stand to gain from the Indian market, while Indian manufacturers, pharma firms and machinery exporters will see immediate tariff‑free entry into New Zealand. Services like tourism and information technology are also slated for significant growth, offering well‑paid positions. Amid global tariff shifts, Mackle said the agreement brings needed certainty, and he hopes to travel to India after New Zealand’s election, ideally before the calendar year ends.