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"A step forward": Why did Labour finally agree to the India FTA?

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 23 Apr 2026, 1:26pm
(Photo / NZ Herald)
(Photo / NZ Herald)

"A step forward": Why did Labour finally agree to the India FTA?

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 23 Apr 2026, 1:26pm

Labour's written to the Prime Minister supporting the India Free Trade Deal being signed in New Delhi next week. 

National needed their support to pass the deal into law, since it was opposed by coalition partner New Zealand First. 

But Chris Hipkins remains concerned about the commitment to promote billions of dollars of investment in India, saying it's not affordable. 

Labour’s Trade Spokesperson Damien O’Connor told Kerre Woodham the slow dribble of information was frustrating, but they’ve reached a point where the balance looks good for New Zealand. 

He says it does come with risks, but there are huge opportunities as well, and they needed to make sure the Government was going to commit to them.  

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