India–New Zealand FTA Talks Gain Momentum | Winston Peters Backs Dairy Ties, Defence Boost

New Zealand Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed his country’s strong commitment to finalising a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India. Speaking from New Delhi after his meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Peters highlighted the potential for collaboration in sectors like dairy, agriculture, and defence. While acknowledging India’s concerns over dairy imports, Peters positioned New Zealand’s expertise as a solution to bolster India’s food security. He also underscored the importance of deepening defence and maritime security ties with India—a “geopolitical giant” and a key player in the Indo-Pacific. The FTA talks follow New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon’s visit to India in March and come amid India’s broader trade push, with agreements recently struck with the UK and negotiations ongoing with the EU and US.#india #newzealand #fta #indianewzealandfta #winstonpeters #sjaishankar #indiatrade #dairydiplomacy #defenceties #indopacific #combinedtaskforce150 #newzealandforeignminister #globaltrade #toibharat