New Zealand’s red meat sector has welcomed the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement taking effect, removing India’s 33 percent tariff on New Zealand sheepmeat.
Meat Industry Association (MIA) independent chair Nathan Guy said the agreement gives New Zealand red meat exporters more options in a challenging global trading environment.
“Red meat exporters are operating in the face of rising protectionism and continued volatility. Broader market access like this helps diversify risk, strengthen resilience and provide greater stability for exporters,” said Guy.
“India is a market with significant long-term potential. Removing the tariff on sheepmeat from day one improves our competitive position and gives exporters a practical basis for building relationships and demand over time.”
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland added that the agreement strengthened New Zealand’s position in a market with long-term promise. She said that India is the world’s most populous country and is expected to become the third-largest economy in the coming years.
As incomes rise, she said demand for high-quality natural protein from New Zealand is also expected to grow. Removing the 33 percent tariff on New Zealand sheepmeat is an important first step. It gives the red meat sector a foundation from which to develop the market as consumer demand grows.
Over time, Acland believed the FTA would support greater market diversification, strengthen the red meat sector’s resilience and create more export opportunities for New Zealand.
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