New Zealand’s foreign affairs minister slams India-NZ trade deal:Peters writes to Indian counterpart Jaishankar terming the FTA as a ‘bad neither free nor fair deal’ for his country

New Zealand First, a political party in New Zealand’s current coalition government, has come out against the recently signed Free Trade Agreement with India. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters stated the party believes the deal is “neither free nor fair” and ultimately “a bad deal” for New Zealand. Concerns Over Dairy and Immigration On his social media handle on ‘X’, Peters highlighted two main concerns: Rushed Agreement? New Zealand First claims they urged their coalition partner (National Party) to take more time to negotiate a better deal. They feel the National Party rushed into a “low-quality deal” instead of working harder for a fairer outcome. Opening Markets Peters said that New Zealand is opening its markets to Indian products, but India isn’t reducing the barriers for New Zealand’s dairy products. Impact on Farmers Peters believes this deal isn’t good for New Zealand farmers and will be hard to explain to rural communities. Migration Concerns Peters is worried about the increased movement of people from India to New Zealand and New Zealand investment in India. He thinks the deal gives India greater access to New Zealand’s job market compared to deals Australia and the UK secured. Commitment to India-New Zealand Relationship Despite disagreeing with the trade deal, New Zealand First says it remains committed to a strong relationship with India. Peters mentioned his early visit to India as Foreign Minister and increased resources dedicated to India-New Zealand relations. He also expressed respect for India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar. Consistent Approach to Trade Peters emphasized that New Zealand First has a history of supporting trade deals that benefit New Zealand and opposing those that don’t. He cited examples of past support for trade agreements with South Korea and the CPTPP, as well as opposition to the China FTA.