Key points
- New Zealand is among the world’s biggest milk producers
- India’s dairy sector is heavily protected
NEW DELHI, India: India has revived long-stalled free trade negotiations with farming giant New Zealand, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Monday after arriving in New Delhi.
New Zealand’s efforts to broker a free trade deal with the world’s most populous nation have made little progress since stalling almost 10 years ago, according to AFP.
A key sticking point remains whether New Zealand, one of the world’s biggest milk producers, can gain access to India’s heavily protected dairy sector.
“I’ve arrived in Delhi and I’m glad to announce that New Zealand and India have agreed to launch negotiations on a comprehensive free trade agreement,” Luxon said in a statement.
Boosting economies
“It is through trade that we can boost the economies of both our countries, providing more jobs and higher incomes for Kiwis and Indians.”
Luxon is due to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
Discussions between the two nations began in April 2010 to enhance trade in goods, services, and investment. However, the talks stalled after 10 rounds of negotiations due to several issues, including disagreements over market access and trade priorities, according to Times of India.
