English Literature – Articles ☆ Current Affairs – Free Trade Agreement: India and New Zealand ☆ Shri Jagat Singh Bisht ☆

Shri Jagat Singh Bisht

(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator, and Speaker.)

Authored six books on happiness: Cultivating Happiness, Nirvana – The Highest Happiness, Meditate Like the Buddha, Mission Happiness, A Flourishing Life, and The Little Book of Happiness. He served in a bank for thirty-five years and has been propagating happiness and well-being among people for the past twenty years. He is on a mission – Mission Happiness!

🌌 Current Affairs – Free Trade Agreement: India and New Zealand  🌌

The Free Trade Agreement signed between India and New Zealand is a welcome and timely step. On balance, the agreement appears to tilt in India’s favour. Goods exported from India will now be able to enter New Zealand without customs duty, and our students and workers have been granted several meaningful relaxations in visa conditions. In addition, New Zealand has committed to investing in India, which strengthens the long-term economic partnership between the two countries.

However, there is one aspect that deserves a closer look. India has imposed relatively strict conditions on certain New Zealand products, which, frankly, seems somewhat unfair. What is more surprising is that the New Zealand government has accepted these terms. High tariffs have been retained on items such as milk, cheese, and butter. Even Manuka honey — regarded globally as one of the finest — continues to attract duties.

If there are Indian consumers who can afford these premium products, they should be allowed to benefit from fair pricing and wider choice. A trade agreement, after all, must serve the interests of both nations and their consumers. It should be a true win–win arrangement, not one that favours only one side.

Balanced trade builds trust, deepens relationships, and ultimately benefits people on both sides of the table.

 #FreeTradeAgreement #India #NewZealand

भारत द्वारा न्यूज़ीलैंड के साथ किया गया फ्री ट्रेड एग्रीमेंट स्वागत योग्य है। इस करार का पलड़ा हमारी ओर झुका हुआ है। भारत से सब समान अब बिना ड्यूटी के न्यूज़ीलैंड जा सकेगा। साथ ही, हमारे छात्रों और वर्कर्स को वीज़ा शर्तों में अनेक लाभ दिए गए हैं। इसके अलावा न्यूज़ीलैंड हमारे देश में निवेश भी करेगा।

लेकिन हमने उनपर कुछ कठोर शर्तें लगाई हैं, जो शायद उचित नहीं हैं। यह बात और है कि इन्हें वहां की सरकार ने स्वीकार किया है, जैसे दूध, चीज़ और मक्खन पर टैरिफ। वहां का मानुका हनी (शहद) विश्व में सर्वश्रेष्ठ माना जाता है। उस पर भी टैरिफ नहीं लगना चाहिए।

देश के उपभोक्ता जो इन प्रोडक्ट्स को अफोर्ड कर सकते हैं, उन्हें इसका लाभ मिलना चाहिए। कोई भी ट्रेड एग्रीमेंट दोनों देशों के लिए और उनके उपभोक्ताओं के लिए विन-विन समझौता होना चाहिए, न कि इकतरफा।

#FreeTradeAgreement #India #NewZealand