AN ELEPHANT-KIWI PARTNERSHIP

India New Zealand are looking to seala trade deal in record time, though milk and wine are addinga dash of drama

- SHREYA NANDI

A t first glance, striking a trade deal with a country whose population is smaller than Pune's might seem trivial. However, in an era where US President Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented tariff wartargeting both allies and adversaries alike -India and New Zealand reviving negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) after a decade-long hiatus seems more strategic than surprising.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who visited New Delhi last week, expressed his eagerness to conclude the trade deal within a record 60 days, underscoring Wellington's urgency to finalise the agreement swiftly.

With New Zealand's general elections slated for October and India's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific, the timing of the trade pact is crucial for Wellington.

Another driving factor is the global surge in protectionism, sparked by Washington's trade policies. With the geopolitical landscape shifting, nations are increasingly prioritising bilateral agreements to secure their trade interests.

India has been actively recalibrating its foreign trade strategy post-Covid-19, engaging more deeply with the global economy through bilateral and regional agreements. Since 2021, it has signed FTAS with Mauritius, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Australia, and countries that are part of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

While negotiations for FTAs with the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) began in 2022, they remain unresolved due to lingering differences.