India-New Zealand FTA: Fourth round of negotiations begin

New Delhi: India and New Zealand on Monday started the fourth round of negotiations in Auckland for the proposed FTA, focusing on key areas including trade in goods and services, and rules of origin, the commerce and industry ministry said.

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal will visit Auckland this week to meet his New Zealand counterpart Todd McClay to review the progress of negotiations, which were formally launched on March 16. The 4th round of FTA talks is being held from November 3.

"Negotiations in this round are focusing on key areas, including trade in goods, trade in services and rules of origin," the ministry said, adding that both sides are working to build on the progress achieved in earlier rounds, to reach convergence on outstanding issues and move towards the early conclusion of the FTA.


The third round of negotiations for the agreement concluded on September 19 in Queenstown, New Zealand. India's goods exports to New Zealand in April-September amounted to $298.48 million, while imports totalled $302.5 million.