The Government is facing renewed pressure to explain key details of the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement, with Labour raising concerns about immigration settings, worker protections and the overall impact on New Zealanders.
Labour’s Trade spokesperson says while the party supports strengthening trade ties with India, the Government has yet to provide clear answers on several aspects of the agreement, including how new visa pathways will operate, what safeguards will be in place to prevent migrant worker exploitation, and whether New Zealand workers could be disadvantaged.
The concerns come as the Government promotes the agreement as a major economic milestone that will eliminate or significantly reduce tariffs on 95 percent of New Zealand’s exports to India, opening greater opportunities for exporters across the agriculture, forestry and manufacturing sectors.
India will also receive duty-free access for all of its exports into New Zealand, while the agreement includes new provisions covering investment, services, skilled worker mobility and business cooperation.
Labour is seeking greater transparency over the implementation of the deal, particularly around visa commitments, labour market impacts and how the Government intends to monitor compliance with employment laws.
The party says New Zealanders deserve confidence that economic gains from the agreement will not come at the expense of local jobs, wages or worker protections. It is also calling for more detailed information on how the Government reached its projections for increased trade and economic growth.
The New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement was signed in April and is being promoted by the Government as one of the country’s most significant trade agreements, with India regarded as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and an increasingly important export destination for New Zealand businesses.
The Government maintains the agreement will diversify export markets, strengthen economic ties with India and create long-term opportunities for businesses across both countries as it moves through the ratification process.
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