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India, New Zealand advance stalled free trade talks
ਖ਼ਬਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਉਂ?
Stalled since 2015 over one product: the dairy clause blocking India's New Zealand trade deal
India-New Zealand free trade talks have advanced after years of being stalled chiefly over dairy market access.
Why it matters: GS-2 core
What you need to know
2 ਮਿੰਟ
India and New Zealand have advanced their free trade negotiations after talks were revived in 2023, having remained stalled since 2015 mainly over New Zealand's push for greater dairy market access and India's protection of its dairy farmers.
A trade agreement between the two countries would extend India's expanding network of bilateral trade pacts, following recent agreements with Australia, the UAE and the European Free Trade Association bloc.
Dairy access and services trade remain the areas most closely watched in the negotiation.
ਸਰੋਤ: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ਮੁੱਖ ਤੱਥ
Remember these
- Talks revived in 2023 after remaining stalled since 2015
- Main sticking point: New Zealand's push for greater dairy market access
- India resists over concerns for domestic dairy farmers
- Follows recent Indian FTAs with Australia, the UAE and the EFTA bloc
- Services trade is also closely watched in the negotiation
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼ · ਮੇਨਜ਼
How the exam will ask it
ਪ੍ਰੀਲਿਮਜ਼
- India-New Zealand free trade talks resumed in 2023 after being stalled since 2015, chiefly over New Zealand's demand for dairy market access.
- A trade pact with New Zealand would extend India's network of bilateral trade agreements, following deals with Australia, the UAE and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
- Dairy access and services trade remain the most closely watched issues in the India-New Zealand FTA negotiations.
ਮੇਨਜ਼
GS Paper 2 - International Relations / India's bilateral trade agreements: the core issue is balancing domestic dairy farmer protection against the gains from deeper trade integration, a tension also seen in India's exit from RCEP over dairy concerns. The way forward lies in calibrated, phased market access with safeguards for sensitive sectors while capturing gains in services and other exports.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
India's free trade negotiations with New Zealand, which resumed in 2023 after years of being stalled, have been held up mainly over New Zealand's demand for greater market access in which sector?
- Automobiles
- Dairy
- Information Technology services
- Textiles
ਜਵਾਬ ਵੇਖੋ
ਜਵਾਬ: B — Correct: Dairy - market access for New Zealand's dairy exports has been the core sticking point given India's protection of its dairy farmers. • Automobiles - wrong: not the central issue. • Information Technology services - wrong: India seeks access abroad in this sector, not a sticking point here. • Textiles - wrong: not the central issue in these talks.
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