Overview

• The third negotiation round ended on September 19 in Queenstown with several chapters concluded and broad progress reported.
• The commerce ministry confirmed the next in-person talks will be held in New Delhi on October 13–14.
• Both sides agreed to continue technical work between rounds to keep up the pace of negotiations.
• The ministry said the agreement is expected to lift trade flows, deepen investment links, and strengthen supply-chain reliability.
• Bilateral merchandise trade reached about USD 1.3 billion in 2024–25, nearly 49% higher year on year, after the FTA process launched on March 16.