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In a scathing rebuke, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters has termed the newly signed free trade agreement between New Zealand and India as “not free and not fair”. Peters, who is the leader of the New Zealand First party, has vowed to lead a spirited opposition to the deal in parliament. The minister has expressed concerns that the agreement is not in New Zealand’s best interests, citing the exclusion of its crucial dairy products, including milk, cheese, and butter.
Peters has stated that the agreement, which was signed last week, is the first trade deal to completely overlook the dairy sector. He has also expressed concerns about the immigration provisions in the agreement, which have been criticized for offering preferential treatment to Indian nationals. According to Peters, the new visa regime will make it difficult for future governments to make changes to immigration policies, potentially allowing Indian students to work in New Zealand without proper regulation.
The Foreign Minister has clarified that the opposition to the agreement is not aimed at damaging ties with India, which he considers an important strategic partner. Peters has stated that the New Zealand First party will only support trade agreements that are clearly in the best interests of New Zealand’s people, while opposing agreements that are detrimental to the country.
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