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India consistently protects interests of vulnerable sectors in FTAs: Goyal
Nov-06-2025

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India consistently protects the interests of vulnerable sectors like dairy, farmers and MSMEs in free trade agreements (FTAs). The remarks are important as New Zealand is a major dairy player in the world, and it may seek greater market access in the sector. 

The minister said that significant progress has been made in the negotiations of the proposed trade agreement with New Zealand. He said the fourth round of negotiations is underway for a pact between senior officials of India and New Zealand. He noted that both countries have agreed to respect each other's sensitivities. He added that India has never given any duty concessions in any of its previous trade agreements. Dairy and agri are politically sensitive areas.

He further said ‘we respect each other's sensitivities--we will not touch such issues and a trade deal is clearly on the table’. However, he said that India can look at increasing cooperation in farming technologies, like dairy machinery. When asked if more rounds of negotiations would happen, he said ‘we may not need many more rounds as significant progress has been made’. He also said that various sectors hold huge potential between India and New Zealand to enhance cooperation, including in defence, agriculture, space, education and tourism sectors.


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