Overview
- Officials finished the fourth negotiating round in New Zealand on 7 November and agreed to push for an early, balanced and comprehensive agreement.
- Talks in this round centred on goods market access, services, rules of origin, economic and technical cooperation, and investment opportunities.
- India reiterated it will protect farmers, dairy producers and MSMEs, with both sides acknowledging dairy and core agriculture as the key sensitive areas.
- New Zealand highlighted agricultural technology collaboration as a major pillar of the pact, while leaders also pointed to broader cooperation in science, innovation, defence and security.
- New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay is slated to visit India next week for follow‑up engagements, as both sides avoid setting deadlines and seek to build on modest but growing two‑way trade.